Demand Uptick: FedEx Orders Boeing 777, ATR 72-600

DALLAS — FedEx (FX) has ordered eight additional Boeing 777 freighters from the American manufacturer and 10 ATR 72-600.

In addition to the Boeing and ATR purchase orders, the cargo giant has pushed back its planned MD-11 retirement from 2028 to 2032. If demand on the international economy segment wanes, FX can move up the retirement, but for now the opposite seems to be the case.

According to Boeing, FX will take delivery of three triple seven freighters in 2026 and five in 2027. Additionally, Boeing confirmed that FX purchased two used triple sevens from an undisclosed party.

All these moves are meant to cater to the recent uptick in international non-parcel cargo service, and in the process upgrade the company's aging freighter fleet with new wide-body aircraft and ATR regional.

Furthermore, the new orders enable FX to offset last year's retirement of nine MD-11 and 22 Boeing 757 jets. The news of the tandem order was first reported by Freightwaves.com.

FedEx's Mainline Fleet in Q1 2025

FedEx's mainline fleet consists of several aircraft types that form the backbone of its global operations:

• 65 Airbus A300-600RF aircraft, including the last A300 ever built (N692FE), with older models gradually being phased out in favor of the Boeing 767-300F
• 138 Boeing 767-300F freighters, which have become increasingly central to FedEx's medium-haul strategy
• 57 Boeing 777-200F aircraft serving as the cornerstone for long-haul international routes
• 37 MD-11F tri-engine freighters, which were previously scheduled for retirement but will now remain in service longer than initially planned
• Approximately 70 Boeing 757-200(SF) aircraft following the retirement of 22 units (about 20% of the B757 fleet) in 2024

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