FedEx has received its fiftieth Boeing 777F in the year the company celebrates its fiftieth year of operation. The aircraft, serial number 66263 and registered as N874FD, was delivered to the company in the first week of September.
FedEx Express, like most cargo airlines, operates a fleet of older and less efficient aircraft compared to passenger airlines. However, as part of a fleet modernization plan, it has plans to retire these aircraft.
In this regard, FedEx has been acquiring new units of the Boeing 767F and 777F since 2013. The company takes advantage of the lower prices of these models due to their replacement by the 787 and eventually the 777X. This strategic acquisition has led to a significant reconfiguration of FedEx’s fleet.
The Boeing 777F has taken on the roles of the company’s older MD-11s, allowing the MD-11 fleet to focus on shorter routes. This change facilitated the retirement of the DC-10 in 2023. Furthermore, the introduction of these new aircraft has paved the way for the retirement of the aging Airbus A310 cargo planes. As more aircraft are delivered, FedEx has outlined plans to retire the remaining MD-11s.
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In this context, the group used its account on X (formerly Twitter) to celebrate the aircraft’s delivery.
FedEx continues to modernize the company’s fleet through investing in more efficient aircraft. Last week, @BoeingAirplanes presented us with our 50th 777F aircraft, during our 50th year of operation! pic.twitter.com/A7jbKieKlS
— FedEx (@FedEx) September 6, 2023
FedEx began its journey in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1971. Initially known as Federal Express Corporation, it was founded by Frederick W. Smith, a graduate of Yale University. Smith developed the core concept of the company in an essay during his studies. In 1973, the company officially commenced operations and relocated its headquarters to Memphis. Smith’s choice of Memphis International Airport was strategic, as it was centrally located in relation to the country’s population and had a temperate climate.
In January 2000, Federal Express underwent a significant transformation: it changed its name to FedEx and completely revamped its operations. FedEx Express, the group’s airline, is the world’s largest cargo fleet operator, with over 650 aircraft. The company also holds the distinction of being the primary operator of aircraft such as the Airbus A300, ATR 42, Cessna 208, DC-10/MD-10, and the MD-11. FedEx was the customer that received both the last Boeing 727 in September 1984 and the last A300/A310 in July 2007.
