WILMINGTON — The Seattle Times reported Thursday that Amazon.com is negotiating to lease 20 Boeing 767 jets for its own air-delivery service, with Wilmington-based ATSG identified as one of the cargo-aircraft companies approached.

Moreover, the publication also stated the additional jets Amazon is negotiating to lease would likely operate out of the Wilmington Air Park, but that statement was not attributed to a source.

In addition to ATSG, Amazon.com has had cargo-aircraft leasing talks with Atlas Air and Kalitta Air, reported The Seattle Times, citing unnamed cargo-industry executives as its sources.

The Seattle Times reported that Amazon declined to comment on the possible development of an air-cargo operation.

According to The Seattle Times, Amazon doesn’t have an air operator’s certificate, and therefore it would have to turn to cargo-jet lessors to launch the business.

This month, ATSG purchased two former Qantas 767-300ERs for conversion, according to The Seattle Times article.

Kalitta Air also recently acquired two used 767-300ER passenger planes that are being converted to cargo freighters and is negotiating to buy even more, the article added.

Visit www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon/amazon-in-talks-to-lease-20-jets-to-launch-air-cargo-business/ to access the article in The Seattle Times written by two Seattle Times business reporters.

According to a Dec. 3 news release from ATSG (Air Transport Services Group, Inc.), ATSG through its leasing and airline subsidiaries is the world’s largest owner and operator of converted Boeing 767 freighter aircraft.

Reach Gary Huffenberger at 937-556-5768 or on Twitter @GHuffenberger.