Taipei, June 30, 2010—FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) and the world’s largest express transportation company, launches today non-stop flights between Kansai International Airport in Osaka, Japan and the FedEx Super Hub in Memphis, Tennessee using the Boeing 777 Freighter (777F).
FedEx will operate six weekly flights[1] in response to anticipated increases in cargo transportation demand in the Asia Pacific region by expanding cargo carrying capacity.
“FedEx is committed to providing the best-in-class service and unparalleled connectivity to customers,“ said David L. Cunningham, president, Asia Pacific, FedEx Express. “As demand for air cargo transport continues in the Asia-Pacific region, the introduction of 777F connecting Japan and North America is timely and will offer our customers a competitive advantage when doing business with the U.S. as well as the global marketplace.“
Japan is one of the top five trading partners of the U.S.[2]. The country recorded a 28.1 percent year-on-year increase in exports to the U.S. in the first four months of 2010[3], reaffirming the recovery of the global economy spearheaded by Asia.
FedEx has already introduced a 777F service connecting Shanghai, China to Memphis in January, and a service connecting Hong Kong to Memphis in March this year.
FedEx is the first U.S.-based, global, all-cargo freight airline to add the 777F to its fleet and has placed the largest order for the aircraft model to date. FedEx has agreed to purchase a total of 38 777F aircraft. Currently, four 777Fs serve routes between Asia and the U.S.
The 777F is the world’s largest twin-engine cargo aircraft. In typical FedEx operations, the aircraft offers a payload improvement of 14,000 pounds and range improvement of 2,100 nautical miles over similarly arranged MD-11Fs, which until now has been the primary long-haul aircraft in the company’s fleet. In addition to service enhancements, the freighter delivers environmental benefits to FedEx operations. The aircraft’s engine technology reduces emissions by 18 percent. Investment in its aircraft fleet is an important part of the FedEx commitment to reduce its CO2 aircraft emissions by 20 percent by 2020 from the baseline year 2005[4].
[1]Mondays – Fridays: Kansai International Airport-Memphis, Tennessee; Saturdays: Kansai International Airport-Anchorage, Alaska-Memphis, Tennessee.
[2]Foreign Trade Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, June 10, 2010
[3]Foreign Trade Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, June 10, 2010
[4]Carbon dioxide emissions on a pounds per ATM basis, or Available Ton Mile, which is defined as one ton of cargo capacity transported one mile