Amazon Global Logistics has added two new airfreight products, Air SMP and Economy Air, to its China-to-US service lineup, targeting faster replenishment, more control over inventory placement, and lower costs.
What Happened
According to Air Cargo News, Air SMP lets sellers split inventory at origin and ship by air directly to a locked fulfilment centre within each of Amazon's five US regions. Transit is estimated at seven to ten calendar days from origin pickup, with daily flights from Shanghai and Hong Kong.
Amazon said Air SMP carries no Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) inbound placement service fees and no additional surcharges on apparel, electronics, or lithium battery products.
Economy Air is positioned as a lower-cost option, with an estimated 11-15 day transit from Shanghai or Shenzhen to Los Angeles. Amazon said it still delivers air-speed replenishment that outpaces ocean freight by weeks, at rates below its standard air service. Both services are pitched for peak-season preparation, stockout recovery, and time-sensitive product launches.
Background
The launch follows Amazon's supply chain reorganization this year. In the summer, the company brought its Amazon Air operation together with its ground transportation and sort centre teams under one leader, saying the move would speed up decisions and improve planning.
In May, Amazon expanded its third-party logistics offering with Amazon Supply Chain Services (ASCS), which bundles freight, distribution, fulfilment, and parcel shipping. The new airfreight options extend that push to sell logistics capabilities externally.
Impact on Shippers
On transit time, Air SMP's 7-10 days and Economy Air's 11-15 days create a middle ground between standard airfreight and ocean, useful for peak-season restocking or recovering from stockouts.
On cost, Air SMP's waiver of FBA inbound placement fees and surcharges on apparel, electronics, and battery products could lower total landed costs for sellers in those categories compared with air-plus-delivery combinations. Economy Air trades speed for price, suiting cargo with more flexible deadlines.
On customs, both services are handled by Amazon Global Logistics, so sellers must provide accurate product information and compliance documents, especially for lithium battery goods, which still need to meet air transport declaration rules.
Recommendations
Shippers should match Air SMP to high-turnover, time-critical SKUs and use Economy Air for replenishment batches with more flexible deadlines. It is also advisable to confirm whether products involve batteries or special declarations in advance, and to allow enough time for origin consolidation and documentation to avoid flight delays caused by incomplete paperwork.