FedEx to retire MD-11Fs in 5 years

FedEx plans to close the chapter on its tri-engine freighter fleet when it retires its MD-11Fs from service in the next five years. To reduce costs and streamline service, the express company expects to remove the last of the tri-engine freighters from the fleet by fiscal year 2028, Richard W. Smith, president and chief executive of airline and international (elect) at FedEx Express, said during a presentation today on FedEx’s Drive initiative to cut costs across the organization. [caption id="attachment_56862747" align="alignright" width="450"] FedEx has fifty-eight MD-11Fs in its fleet. (Photo/FedEx)[/caption] FedEx will consolidate most of its existing operating companies to operate an integrated air-ground network under the FedEx brand, to run a “more profitable enterprise,” the company announced today. The fleet chart in FedEx’s statistical book for the third quarter of its fiscal year 2023, published March 16, did not show the retirement timeline for the MD-11Fs. The company will close its heavy maintenance facility in Los Angeles (LAX) when the hangar lease expires and consolidate its maintenance activities in Indianapolis (IND) and Memphis (MEM), which will yield an additional $60 million in savings by 2025, Smith said. Smith added that the transition of its heavy maintenance base to IND and fleet modernization are now possible with the sunset of the MD-10Fs and planned retirement of the MD-11Fs. FedEx plans to scale down its fleet spending from $2.3 billion to $1.5 billion by 2025, Smith said. FedEx, which has a total of fifty-eight MD-11Fs in its fleet, has parked six units so far in 2023. The company retired its MD-10Fs at the end of 2022 and is committed to purchase twenty-five more 767-300Fs and six more 777Fs. Meanwhile, UPS also has started to retire its MD-11Fs and expects to remove six from its fleet by yearend. Don’t miss our two upcoming events that are essential for stakeholders in Asia and Latin America: Cargo Facts Asia , taking place April 17-19 in Singapore, and Cargo Facts LATAM , taking place May 15-17 in Panama City. Register today.

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