ACW - Air Cargo Week
01/09/2012
FedEx orders 27 newbuild B767-300Fs
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The end of last year saw FedEx Express place an order with Boeing for 27 B767-300 freighters.
The first three of the B767Fs are expected to be delivered in the first quarter of FedEx's 2014 fiscal year, while six more will arrive each year during the 2015 to 2018 financial years.
The B767 freighter will be a departure in terms of aircraft type for the express services giant, enabling it to replace its older, less fuel-efficient MD-10Fs, some of which are over 40 years old.
The B767Fs will provide similar capacity to the MD-10F, but offer improved reliability, approximately 30 percent greater fuel efficiency and a minimum 20 percent improvement in operating costs, FedEx said.
Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Seattle-headquartered Boeing Commercial Airplanes, remarks: "The 767 is a proven freighter and this order constitutes a strong vote of confidence for its capabilities. It is an airplane that we will be building for decades."
David Bronczek, president and CEO of FedEx Express, points out: "The 767 freighter, with its solid efficiency among medium widebody cargo planes, is an ideal solution to support our strategy of providing fast and reliable delivery to every US address and to more than 220 countries and territories."
FedEx already operates a total of 17 B777 freighters, an important part of its fleet of more than 690 aircraft, and this latest deal also saw the integrator exercise an option it had on acquiring two more of the model.
Furthermore, it took the decision to delay the delivery of 11 B777Fs, two of which will be deferred from the 2013 fiscal year, five from the 2014 financial year and one per year in each of the 2015-28 financial years.
As a result of these delivery postponements - which it said will "better balance air network capacity to demand" - FedEx Express has confirmed that it expects to put four B777Fs into service in the 2013 financial year and two in the following 12 months.
The option that has been exercised on two more B777Fs, will see those aircraft arrive at the end of the B777 delivery schedule.
Alan Graf, executive vice president and chief financial officer of FedEx Corp, explains: "FedEx Express took action during the quarter to adjust its network, particularly in Asia, as recent inventory destocking trends have impacted demand for our FedEx Express services."
The B777F is the world's longest range twin-engine freighter. The aircraft is able to fly up to 9,065km (4,895 nautical miles) with a full payload of nearly 104 tonnes.
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