Aug 5 2008
FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. and the world’s largest express transportation company, has launched its inaugural revenue flight using a Boeing 757 freighter. The new route provides reliable cargo service between the Memphis International Airport (MEM) and the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) eight times per week.
This FedEx Boeing 757 flight into DCA also serves a new airport for FedEx, further extending the reliability, connectivity and quality of FedEx service throughout the mid-Atlantic region.
“The introduction of the 757 freighter to our fleet of aircraft – one of the largest in the world—is a significant milestone for FedEx,” said David J. Bronczek, president and chief executive officer of FedEx Express. “This new service immediately expands our reach and capacity in the mid-Atlantic region and enhances the access our customers have in the global marketplace.”
In addition to customer benefits, the introduction of the Boeing 757 to the FedEx fleet continues the company’s commitment to growth in an efficient, environmentally-conscious way. The Boeing 757 is known for its improved fuel efficiency and reduced noise levels, and will be phased in over time as the less fuel-efficient Boeing 727 aircraft are retired from service.
“Investment in the Boeing 757 aircraft is a key component in our plan for a reduced carbon footprint,” said Jim Parker, senior vice president of Air Operations for FedEx Express. “Our plans to replace the Boeing 727 aircraft with more efficient Boeing 757s allow us to aggressively upgrade our fleet while reducing our overall, long-term energy investment. These fleet initiatives create and sustain long-term stockholder value by reducing our reliance on traditional energy sources and mitigating our exposure to potential price increases and supply shortages.”
The introduction of the Boeing 757 model into the company’s fleet offers measurable cost benefits for FedEx during a period of unprecedented energy prices. The aircraft has significantly improved fuel-burn efficiencies, cutting greenhouse gas emissions and reducing fuel consumption up to 36 percent while providing 20 percent more capacity per flight, when compared to the Boeing 727 it replaces. FedEx Express plans to introduce an additional 11 Boeing 757s into service over the next year.
Efforts at FedEx Express to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions extend across the operation.
- In 2009, FedEx will introduce the Boeing 777 to its fleet. This freighter provides greater payload capacity while using 18 percent less fuel than planes in the company’s current international fleet.
- FedEx Express employees are increasing fuel efficiency and reducing fuel emissions during operations with more than 30 initiatives that range from improvements in flight planning to aircraft operation efficiencies.
- Ground support equipment at FedEx operations at select airports has been converted from internal combustion engine models to electric units, which saves 9 million gallons of fuel annually.