FedEx converts options into orders for a further eight Boeing 777F freighters
US express freight giant FedEx has announced that the company has exercised options held for a further eight Boeing 777F freighter aircraft. The announcement comes as the carrier also revealed an order for ten additional ATR72 freighters, while FedEx also said that it intends to push back the retirement date of its aging fleet of McDonnell Douglas MD-11 tri-jets by a further four years until 2029.
Under the terms of the latest announcement, the carrier says it expects to receive three of the Boeing 777Fs in 2026 with the remaining five to be delivered the following year in 2027. According to a financial filing made by the carrier, the options for the Boeing 777Fs were confirmed as orders earlier in March 2025.
“We have several aircraft modernization programs underway that are supported by the purchase of 777Fs and 767-300Fs,” stated the filing. With a further eight 777Fs joining the global megacarrier’s cargo fleet, the company will see its commitment to the 777F substantially increase as it aims to modernize and standardize its widebody fleet. This is notwithstanding the decision to delay the retirement of the MD-11s.
Merrillie Redden / ShutterstockThe introduction of more modern aircraft such as the 777F and the 767-300F into its fleet will introduce significantly more fuel efficiency per unit into its widebody fleet, as the company continues to seek ways to cut costs and streamline its operations in the coming years. The addition of newer generation freighters will also allow FedEx to continue to grow market share rather than wait for the next generation of freighter aircraft such as the Airbus A350F and the Boeing 777-8F to enter service.
While the carrier will have little choice but to declare a commitment to one or both the new models at some point, the 777Fs will at least provide something of a stopgap until those aircraft arrive.
Ryken Papy / ShutterstockAccording to ch-aviation, the current FedEx fleet now includes a staggering 415 aircraft, with 34 planes in storage and a further 39 on order. The airline’s biggest commitment is to the Boeing 767-300F, of which 134 units remain in active service with an average fleet age of 5.9 years. Meanwhile, the options on the 777F mean that the company will operate 66 777Fs, with an average current age of 9.4 years.
The carrier’s biggest future headache is likely to be its commitment to the aging Boeing 757F, of which it still has 85 in its fleet, although 22 are already shown as parked. With an average fleet age of 33.2 years, these will need replacing sooner rather than later, with the Airbus A321 a likely contender in that category.
On March 21, 2025, FedEx placed an order for 10 more ATR 72-600F regional aircraft adding to a previous agreement signed between the two companies in 2017. ATR confirmed that the 10 ordered aircraft were part of its 2024 undisclosed orders that it released in February 2025 and expects delivery of the ATR 72-600Fs to begin to FedEx in 2027 through to 2029.
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The post FedEx converts options into orders for a further eight Boeing 777F freighters appeared first on AeroTime.
US express freight giant FedEx has announced that the company has exercised options held for a further eight…
The post FedEx converts options into orders for a further eight Boeing 777F freighters appeared first on AeroTime.
