FedEx Express has retired its last Boeing 727 narrow-body freighter as part of the company’sstrategy to modernise its aircraft fleet.
“For more than three decades, our Boeing 727 fleet was instrumental in our company’s domesticgrowth,” David J. Bronczek, president and chief executive officer, FedEx Express, said. “Today, weare opening a new chapter for company growth and opportunity as we continue to modernise our globalfleet with more technologically advanced, fuel efficient, lower emission cargo jets.”
FedEx introduced the B727 mid-size jet freighter to its fleet following deregulation of theairline industry in 1977 giving the company access to more domestic markets and bringing immediateoperational efficiencies thanks to greater payload capabilities. Early FedEx acquisitions of used727s from other carriers were followed by new aircraft purchases from Boeing. The express carrierat one point was the world’s largest operator of 727s, with 170 of the aircraft in its fleet at anyone time.
The company began retiring its 727-200 fleet in 2007 replacing the freighters with more modernBoeing 757 airplanes. Its fleet modernisation programme accelerated the retirement cycle with more757 freighters and new Boeing 777 long-range freighters introduced over the last several years. TheB777 freighters are the biggest in the FedEx fleet and the world’s largest twin-engine cargoaircraft. This fall, the company will start taking delivery of new Boeing 767 aircraft to replaceits old MD-10 freighters.
The 767s will provide significantly improved reliability and are substantially morefuel-efficient and environmentally friendly than the aircraft they will replace, in line with FedExcommitment to reducing its aircraft carbon emissions 30% by 2020 under its fleet modernisationprogramme. It expects to source at least 30% of its jet fuel from alternative fuels by the year2030.
“As we celebrate our company’s 40th anniversary, we can look back at an aircraft bloodline thathas been impressive,” Bronczek said. “From the small Falcons, which served us well when the companywas young, to our 727s, to what is now the largest fleet of express cargo aircraft in the world,our transportation capabilities for global customers is unmatched in the industry. Equallyimpressive are the innovation, technology and environmental benefits of the new aircraft we areadding.”
Nearly half of FedEx’s B727 fleet has been donated to aviation schools, colleges and localcommunities across the USA in the last several years as part of the company’s charity efforts.FedEx aircraft donations support school curriculums that are developing the next generation ofaviation professionals and are also being used for training by emergency response teams at localairports and fire departments.
