FedEx

FedEx Express (ICAO: FDX) Airline: A Comprehensive Overview

FedEx Express is an American cargo airline based in Memphis, Tennessee, and the leading subsidiary of FedEx Corporation. Founded by Frederick W. Smith in 1971 as Federal Express Corporation, the company began its overnight operations on April 17, 1973, connecting twenty-five cities in the United States with fourteen Dassault Falcon 20 aircraft. The company rebranded to FedEx in 1994, with Federal Express officially becoming FedEx Express. As of 2023, it stands as the world's largest cargo airline based on fleet size and freight tons flown.

The airline's global "Super Hub" is strategically located at Memphis International Airport, which processes millions of shipments daily. A national hub operates out of Indianapolis International Airport, complemented by regional hubs across the U.S. in locations such as Anchorage, Fort Worth–Alliance, Greensboro, Miami, Newark, Oakland, and Ontario. Internationally, FedEx Express maintains key regional hubs in major cities including Cologne/Bonn, Dubai–International, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Liège, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, and Shanghai–Pudong, among others, to facilitate its extensive global network.

FedEx Express operates one of the world's largest cargo air fleets, comprising over 650-700 aircraft. This diverse fleet includes a range of aircraft types such as the Airbus A300, ATR 42/72, Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster, Cessna 408F SkyCourier, Boeing 737, Boeing 757, Boeing 767, Boeing 777, and McDonnell Douglas MD-11 freighters. The airline is actively engaged in a fleet modernization strategy, phasing out older trijets like the Boeing 727 and some MD-11s in favor of more fuel-efficient twin-jet models such as the Boeing 757, 767, and 777 freighters. FedEx Express provides air and ground delivery of freight and packages to more than 375 destinations across over 220 countries and territories on six continents daily, serving more than 650 airports worldwide. As a dedicated cargo airline, FedEx Express does not participate in traditional passenger airline alliances like Star Alliance, SkyTeam, or Oneworld, nor does it offer passenger cabin classes. Its notable services focus on time-definite cargo delivery, including overnight shipping, international shipping, FedEx International Next Flight for critical shipments, and specialized transportation for dangerous goods.