FedEx postpones MD-11F retirement, orders more production freighters

FedEx is postponing the retirement of its MD-11F fleet by four years and is buying ten more 777Fs, securing more large-widebody freighter capacity amid a tight market. The express integrator has extended the retirement of its tri-jet freighters to fiscal 2032 from fiscal 2028, according to a 10Q filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission today. [caption id="attachment_57149626" align="aligncenter" width="716"] FedEx had previously intended to retire its MD-11Fs by May 31, 2028. (Courtesy/Memphis International Airport)[/caption] FedEx expects to remove five MD-11Fs from fleet service in fiscal 2027, which ends May 31, 2027, and five more in fiscal 2028 before retiring six in fiscal 2029 and seven in fiscal 2029, according to FedEx’s fleet table in its third-quarter fiscal 2025 statistical book, also released today. The company had intended to remove up to ten MD-11Fs per year over the next four years as part of its plan to phase out the type by May 31, 2028 , according to its fleet table for Q2 fiscal 2025 statistical book. Although FedEx sent at least seven tri-jets for storage in 2024, it returned three MD-11Fs to service before the peak season began. More 777Fs Meanwhile, FedEx agreed to purchase two used 777Fs during its most recent quarter, which ended Feb. 28, and firmed up options to buy eight new 777Fs in March, it said in the stat book. The company expects to receive the two used aircraft in calendar year 2027, while three new units will arrive in calendar year 2026 and the other five in calendar year 2027, it said. FedEx previously held options with Boeing for twenty-three 777Fs and only has one more delivery in 2025 as part of its previous order. The express integrator is the largest operator of the type by far with fifty-eight units. Boeing’s most recent backlog, as of Feb. 28, shows only an order from an unidentified customer for two 777Fs in 2025. Including one delivery (66267) to FedEx in March , Boeing had seventy-three 777Fs in its orderbook as of Feb. 28. The source of the two used 777Fs is unclear. FedEx previously bought one used 777F each from Air France and Etihad . It also has three that it leased from Titan Aviation Leasing. Firmed-up ATR 72-600F orders In the feeder segment, FedEx has also firmed up options for ten additional ATR 72-600Fs, bringing its purchase commitment to seventeen, according to the fleet table in the stat book. FedEx retains options for an additional ten ATR-72 600Fs. The integrator expects to receive: One ATR 72-600F in fiscal 2025, ending May 31; Six in fiscal 2026; Four in fiscal 2028; Four in fiscal 2029; and Two in fiscal 2030. FedEx has twenty-three ATR 72-600Fs, receiving the last seven in 2024. The last three to be delivered (1762, 1763 and 1764), in July, September and November, respectively, have been placed with Swiftair . Swiftair is the fifth CMI operator for FedEx’s new ATR 72-600Fs and the first Spanish carrier to operate the type. FedEx took its first ATR 72-600F in 2020 and placed it with ASL Airlines Ireland. Since then, the integrator has expanded and diversified its CMI providers for the type: Nine are with ASL Airlines Ireland; Four each with Mountain Air Cargo and Gulf & Caribbean Cargo; and Three are with Empire Airlines . Register now for Cargo Facts' essential regional events for industry stakeholders: Cargo Facts Asia 2025 on March 24-26 at the W Shanghai in China; and Cargo Facts EMEA 2025 on May 6-8 at the Shangri-La Bosphorus in Turkey.

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