Empire Airlines (Idaho) (Coeur d’Alene) has announced on social media it has taken delivery of its first ATR 72-600F (N701FE) which was delivered and ferried from Toulouse to Spokane on May 24-26, 2021.
Empire’s announcement:
Empire Airlines is excited to be first in the nation to take delivery of the new FedEx ATR 72-600F. This is the second ATR 72-600F to roll off the assembly line. Empire Airlines was chosen as the US launch operator for this aircraft.
Route Map:
FedEx Corporation and UEFA have signed a three-year agreement in which FedEx will sponsor the UEFA Champions League commencing at the start of the 2021/22 tournament and extending for three editions through to 2023/24. The agreement also includes sponsorship rights for the UEFA Super Cup, UEFA Youth League finals, the UEFA Champions League Futsal finals and UEFA eChampions League.
The sponsorship builds on the existing relationship with UEFA. FedEx became a main sponsor of the UEFA Europa League in 2015 and a UEFA National Team Football sponsor in 2019.ย FedEx is also the Official Logistics Partner of UEFA EURO 2020 taking place in the summer of 2021 across multiple European host cities.
This new sponsorship of the UEFA Champions League reaffirms FedEx as a long-standing sponsor of UEFA.
In 2016, FedExย became the first sponsor to begin collaborating with the UEFA Foundation for Children, using football as a tool to deliver positive and social impact in communities around the world. Alongside sponsorship of the UEFA Europa League and UEFA EURO 2020, FedEx and the UEFA Foundation have delivered safeย community football fields in Spain, Poland, Brazil, and South Africa and have rolled out a co-funded โFootball for Employabilityโ program benefitting young adults in Romania, Hungary, England and Ireland. FedEx also invited local childrenย to be player mascots at UEFA Europa League finals in collaboration with non-profit organizations in Stockholm (Sweden), Lyon (France) and Baku (Azerbaijan), where an all-girl player mascot line-up made footballing history.
โOur global sponsorship of UEFA Champions League will deliver unrivalled opportunities for our brand, team members, customers, and communities. Aligning our brand with world class sports performance allows us to connect our services to our audiences through the passion and emotions generated by sports and enables us to contribute positively to our local communities,โ said Brie Carere, executive vice president, chief marketing and communications officer, FedEx Corp.
โWeโll continue to explore powerful social responsibility collaborations with the UEFA Foundation for Children, as we have done throughout our UEFA Europa League sponsorship.โ
โFedEx has proved to be an incredibly valued UEFA partner. We are delighted they are continuing their evolution with us, which started in 2015 and now sees them supporting our flagship club competition, the UEFA Champions League,โ said UEFA marketing director Guy-Laurent Epstein. โThe UEFA Champions League is the worldโs greatest club competition, and we are looking forward to working with FedEx closely over the next three years to help them activate their numerous projects. They will benefit not just the footballing community, but also look to have a positive impact on the environmentโ.
In other news, the company is preparing to take delivery of the 100th Boeing 767. N277FE carries this special logo on the rear fuselage.
Top and Above Copyright Photo: FedEx Express Boeing 767-300F ER N277FE (msn 66246) (100th Boeing 767 FedEx) PAE (Nick Dean). Image: 953640.
FedEx aircraft slide show:
FedEx Corporation,ย home ofย the worldโs largestย cargo airline,ย announced an ambitiousย goalย to achieveย carbonโneutralย operationsย globallyย by 2040.ย ย
Toย helpย reach this goal,ย FedEx is designating more than $2 billion of initial investment in three key areas: vehicle electrification, sustainable energy, and carbon sequestration.ย
This includes a pledge of $100 million to Yale University to help establish theย Yaleย Center for Natural Carbon Capture, accelerating research into methods of carbon sequestration at scale, with an initial focus on helping to offset greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to current airline emissions.ย ย ย
โWe haveย a responsibility toย take boldย actionย inย addressingย climateย challenges,โ said Frederick W. Smith,ย Chairman and CEO, FedEx Corp.ย โThis goalย builds on our longstanding commitment to sustainability throughout our operations, whileย at the same timeย investing in long-term,ย transformational solutions for FedEx and our entire industry.โย
Keyย stepsย toward reachingย the carbon neutral goalย include:ย ย
The path toward sustainabilityย requiresย new strategies for removing and storing Earthโs excess carbon. Theย Yaleย Center for Natural Carbon Capture will catalyze interdisciplinary research across the natural sciences and engineeringย in an effort toย accelerateย this work.ย ย
Center researchers will develop methods that build on natural carbon storage systems, including biological ecosystems and the geological carbon cycle, improving, where possible, how quickly carbon can be absorbed, how much can be contained,ย and how long it can be stored. Through these efforts, Yale scientists aim to create a portfolio of carbon removal strategies that have impacts on a global scale.ย ย
Building upon initial successes in the aviationย sector, theย center will broaden its scope to address additional global sources of emissionsย โ publishingย and sharingย its findingsย soย that businesses, industries, and governments can benefit from work that will accelerate the adoption and implementation of natural carbon capture strategies around the world.ย
โAddressing climate change is a complex challenge that demands urgent action, and natural carbon capture strategies will be one key part of that action,โ said Dr. Ingrid C. โIndyโ Burke, the Carl W. Knobloch, Jr. Dean of the Yale School of the Environment. โThrough the creation of theย Yaleย Center for Natural Carbon Capture, we aim to develop measurable carbon capture strategies to help offset carbon emissions globally.โย
The FedEx commitment builds on a history ofย sustainableย practices.ย Since 2009, the companyโs efforts have contributed to an approximately 40% reduction in CO2ย emissions intensity across the enterpriseย while package volume increased 99%ย during that period.ย Recently, FedEx was ranked first in its industry on JUST Capitalโs 2021 list of โAmericaโs Most Just Companiesโ in the environment category and first in the travel, transport andย logistics sector of Newsweekโs โAmericaโs Most Responsible Companies 2021.โย
โWhile weโve made great strides in reducing our environmental impact, we have to do more.ย Theย long-termย health of our industryย is directlyย linkedย to the health of the planet, butย thisย effortย isย about more than the bottom line โ itโsย the right thing to do,โ said Mitch Jackson, Chief Sustainability Officer, FedEx Corp. โAt FedEx, we are committed to connecting people andย possibilitiesย resourcefully and responsibly.ย Theย stepsย weย are takingย today willย contribute a positiveย impactย forย generations to come.โย ย
FedEx Express aircraft photo gallery:
FedEx Express aircraft slide show:
FedEx Corporation is expected to cut upwards of 6,300 jobs in Europe as part of the TNT Express integration according to Bloomberg.
A second COVID-19 vaccine by Moderna has been approved (now two). FedEx Express has made this announcement:
FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corporation and the worldโs largest express transportation company, has announced that operations are in motion to transport Modernaโs COVID-19 vaccines for McKesson Corp. throughout the United States.
Following the Food and Drug Administrationโs approval of Emergency Use Authorization for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, FedEx Express will begin transport of the vaccine and kits of supplies for administration of the vaccine, using its FedEx Priority Overnightยฎย service supported by FedEx Priority Alertยฎย advanced monitoring. After months of preparation and close planning with McKesson, Operation Warp Speed and state and local officials, the COVID-19 vaccines will begin moving to dosing centers throughout the United States. FedEx continues to work closely with its healthcare customers on plans for additional vaccine shipments and the transportation of critical vaccine-related supplies.
The FedEx network began actively delivering Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine shipments across the U.S.ย last week. The company is set to begin vaccine shipments throughout Canada as early as next week and is also preparing to begin delivering vaccines to other countries. FedEx is well-positioned to handle COVID-19 vaccine shipments around the world with temperature-control solutions, near real-time monitoring capabilities, and a dedicated healthcare team to support the express transportation of vaccines and bioscience shipments.
โThe shipment of vaccines to help end the COVID-19 pandemic is among the most important work in the history of FedEx, and our team is focused on the safe and efficient delivery of these critical shipments,โ said Raj Subramaniam, president and chief operating officer, FedEx Corp. โAs we have said since the onset of the pandemic and our relief efforts, this is who we are and what we do.โ
Transportation of COVID-19 vaccines is the next phase of ongoing FedEx efforts to support pandemic relief around the world. FedEx has a long history of supporting relief efforts when disasters strike, using its network and expertise to deliver for good.
โThe FedEx team and network are uniquely positioned to deliver on this mission in the U.S. and around the world,โ said Don Colleran, president and chief executive officer, FedEx Express. โThe transportation of vaccines continues our ongoing work since the beginning of the pandemic to keep critical supply chains operating, meet the increased demands for residential delivery and deliver more than 9,600 humanitarian aid shipments around the globe.โ
To help reach underserved communities with the COVID-19 vaccine, FedEx has committed $4 million in cash and in-kind transportation support to several nonprofits serving communities in the U.S. and around the world. These include Direct Relief, International Medical Corps, and Heart to Heart International.
โFedEx Express has deep relationships and decades of experience delivering for our healthcare customers,โ said Richard W. Smith, regional president of the Americas and executive vice president of global support, FedEx Express. โOur service and network were built for this moment. Coupled with our investments in advanced technology, we are ready to support McKesson and Moderna in this historic effort to help end the pandemic.โ
About the technology:
At FedEx, the information about the package is as important as the package itself as it moves through the network. FedEx SenseAware ID, a Bluetooth low-energy sensor device, will be affixed to vaccine shipments, helping to ensure these temperature-sensitive deliveries move swiftly and safely through the FedEx Express U.S. network with FedEx Priority Overnight service. From origin to destination, dedicated FedEx Priority Alert customer support agents are using SenseAware monitoring technology to track the location of vaccine shipments in near real-time. This technology is complemented by the FedEx Surround platform, which leverages artificial intelligence and predictive tools to proactively monitor conditions surrounding the packages, allowing customer support agents to intervene if weather or traffic delays threaten to impede delivery times.
Quick stats about the FedEx network:
FedEx aircraft photo gallery:
FedEx aircraft slide show:
FedEx Corporation has reported the following consolidated results for the quarter ended November 30 (adjusted measures exclude the items listed below for the applicable fiscal year):
| Fiscal 2021 | Fiscal 2020 | |||
| As Reported (GAAP) |
Adjusted (non-GAAP) |
As Reported (GAAP) |
Adjusted (non-GAAP) |
|
| Revenue | $20.6 billion | $20.6 billion | $17.3 billion | $17.3 billion |
| Operating income | $1.47 billion | $1.51 billion | $554 million | $684 million |
| Operating margin | 7.1% | 7.4% | 3.2% | 3.9% |
| Net income | $1.23 billion | $1.30 billion | $560 million | $660 million |
| Diluted EPS | $4.55 | $4.83 | $2.13 | $2.51 |
This yearโs and last yearโs quarterly consolidated results have been adjusted for:
| Impact per diluted share
|
Fiscal 2021 | Fiscal 2020 |
| Mark-to-market TNT Express retirement plan accounting adjustment |
$0.15 | โ |
| TNT Express integration expenses | 0.13 | 0.19 |
| Aircraft impairment charges | ย โ | 0.19 |
โMy sincere appreciation goes out to our nearly 600,000 team members around the world who go above and beyond to keep the world moving during this ongoing pandemic and unprecedented peak season. Our strong revenue and earnings growth during the quarter is a reflection of their continued hard work and commitment to our customers,โ said Frederick W. Smith, FedEx Corp. chairman and chief executive officer. โThese results demonstrate the unparalleled strength of our global express network, the breadth of our e-commerce capabilities, and the dedication of our people.โ
Operating results increased due to volume growth in FedEx International Priority and U.S. domestic residential package services and pricing initiatives across all transportation segments. These factors were partially offset by costs to support strong demand and to expand services, variable compensation expense, and COVID-19-related costs, including expenses incurred to ensure the safety of FedEx team members and customers as well as the costs of network contingencies, including additional personnel to support operations through the pandemic.
Net income includes a pretax non cash loss of $52 million ($41 million, net of tax, or $0.15 per diluted share) associated with amending a TNT Express European pension plan to harmonize retirement benefits. Net income also includes a tax benefit of $191 million ($0.71 per diluted share) primarily related to favorable guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service during the quarter. Last yearโs results included a tax benefit of $133 million ($0.51 per diluted share) from the recognition of certain foreign tax loss carry forwards.
Outlook
FedEx is not providing an earnings forecast for fiscal 2021. The capital spending forecast for the year remains $5.1 billion.
โThe benefits of the investments across our business over the past several years are reflected in our strong second quarter results,โ said Michael C. Lenz, FedEx Corp. executive vice president and chief financial officer. โWhile the overall environment remains uncertain, we expect earnings growth in the second half of fiscal 2021 driven by the anticipated heightened demand for our services as we continue to execute on our strategic priorities.โ
FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. and the worldโs largest express transportation company, has announced the delivery of the first ATR 72-600F aircraft to its feeder aircraft network. The delivery of the new state-of-the-art freighter was made from ATR to FedEx in Toulouse, France.
The ATR 72-600F is the first-ever production freighter built by ATR and can carry heavier payloads than ATRs converted from passenger configuration. The aircraft has a large cargo door, allowing for carriage of bulk cargo as well as Unit Load Device (ULD) configurations. It has a bulk capacity of 2,630 cubic feet (74.5 cubic meters), and when in ULD mode it can accommodate up to seven LD3 containers or five 88โ x 108โ pallets.
FedEx originally announced the purchase agreement with ATR in November 2017. Under the agreement, FedEx Express made a firm purchase of 30 ATR 72-600F aircraft with options to purchase up to 20 more. Subsequent deliveries will be about six aircraft per year over a five-year period. The first ATR aircraft will be operated by ASL Airlines Ireland, a FedEx ATR operator since 2000, as part of the FedEx Express Feeder fleet.
FedEx currently deploys 364 feeder aircraft operating in 56 countries. Most of these feeder aircraft are owned by FedEx and leased and operated by different third-party air carriers under their own operating certificates. The FedEx feeder fleet is comprised of aircraft under 60,000 pounds maximum gross take-off weight and allows the company to provide fast, economical services to small and medium-sized businesses around the world.
FedEx Express’ first flight (FDX 884) with Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine departed Grand Rapids, MI Gerald Ford Airport (GRR) at 11 am local time today bound for the Memphis hub.
The flight is being operated with Airbus A300F4-605R N669FE (below).
GRR issued this statement (photos by FedEx):
The first cargo plane carrying Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for domestic use departed from the Gerald R. Ford International Airport atย 11 a.m.ย today โ the first of tens of thousands of shipments that will deliver the life-saving vaccine to locations around the nation and then the world.
After the FDA authorized the vaccine for emergency use, the first doses arrived via truck from Pfizer’s headquarters in Portage atย 9:45 a.m.ย The mood was jubilant on the airfield as crews began loading the Airbus A300 in preparation for the one hour and 30-minute flight toย Memphis, Tennessee.
Transportation plays a key role in distributing the vaccine, which must be kept at negative 94 Fahrenheit. A wide-body aircraft, the Airbus A300 can carry up to 105,000 pounds of cargo.
“This is a big day forย West Michiganย and a historic milestone for the world that marks the beginning of the end to the global pandemic,” saidย Torrance Richardson, president and CEO of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority. “The Ford Airport is honored to play a key role in ensuring the vaccine gets into the hands of healthcare professionals around the country.
“Our continuing investment in infrastructure has ensured we are able to meet the demands of the aggressive delivery schedule. We train and prepare for this all year long to ensure we are ready for whatever challenges come our way.”
The Ford Airport is the closest commercial airport to Pfizer’sย Kalamazooย manufacturing operations with the infrastructure needed to support the transportation process. Ford Airport has a 10,000-foot runway, dedicated cargo facility, appropriate ground support and the capacity needed to stage and transport billions of doses of the vaccine.
Talks continue with four global carriers that have expressed interest in transporting the widely anticipated vaccine, which is seen as the beginning of the end of the global pandemic.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Ford Airport has taken a number of steps to make its guest experience as safe and comfortable as possible through its Fly Safe. Fly Ford. campaign. It also recently announced it is serving as a COVID-19 drive-up test site for guests and the community.
Previously GRR issued this statement:
As the Food & Drug Administration gives the green light to Pfizerโs COVID-19 vaccine, the Gerald R. Ford International Airport is prepared to serve as a national and international gateway for distribution.
The Ford Airport is the closest airport to Pfizerโs Kalamazoo manufacturing operations with the infrastructure needed to support the transportation process. Ford Airport has a 10,000-foot runway, dedicated cargo facility, appropriate ground support and the capacity needed to stage and transport billions of doses of the vaccine, which must be kept at negative 94 Fahrenheit.
Airport officials have been in talks with four global carriers that have expressed interest in transporting the widely anticipated vaccine, which is seen as the beginning of the end of the global pandemic.
โWeโre here, weโre ready to help and weโre eager to get to work,โ said Torrance Richardson, president and CEO of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority. โWe have invested in the infrastructure needed to accommodate the wide-body aircraft that will be used to transport the vaccine โ and we have the team in place to handle the aggressive delivery schedule.
โFord Airport is honored to be a key part of the distribution chain for Pfizerโs life-saving vaccine. We often say our Airport is the gateway to the world โ this gives us the opportunity to underscore that in an exceptionally meaningful way.โ
Since the beginning of the pandemic, Ford Airport has taken a number of steps to make its guest experience as safe and comfortable as possible through its Fly Safe. Fly Ford. campaign. It also recently announced it will serve as a COVID-19 drive-up test site for guests and the community.
FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. and the worldโs largest express transportation company, announced today that operations are in motion to transport its first shipments of COVID-19 vaccines.
Following the Food and Drug Administrationโs approval of Emergency Use Authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, FedEx Express will begin transport of the vaccine using its FedEx Priority Overnightยฎย service supported by FedEx Priority Alertยฎย advanced monitoring. After months of preparation and close planning with Pfizer, other healthcare companies, and federal and state officials, the first COVID-19 vaccines will move to dosing centers in the United States. Vaccine distribution will be balanced among major cargo carriers, and FedEx is working closely with healthcare customers to prepare for additional vaccine shipments and transportation of critical vaccine-related supplies.
The FedEx network is well-positioned to handle COVID-19 vaccine shipments around the world with temperature-control solutions, near real-time monitoring capabilities and a dedicated healthcare team to support the express transportation of vaccines and bioscience shipments.
โThis is among the most important work in the history of our company, and weโre honored to be a part of the effort to help end this pandemic,โ said Raj Subramaniam, president and chief operating officer, FedEx Corp. โI am immensely proud of our dedicated team members who continue to go above and beyond to help ensure the safe movement of these critical COVID-19 vaccines, especially during our busiest holiday shipping season to date. This is who we are and what we do at FedEx.โ
Transportation of COVID-19 vaccines is the next phase of ongoing FedEx efforts to support pandemic relief around the world. FedEx has a long history of supporting relief efforts when disasters strike, using its network and expertise to deliver for good.
โWe are one of the few companies with the global network and capabilities to keep critical supply chains moving during this unprecedented time,โ said Don Colleran, president and chief executive officer, FedEx Express. โSince the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, FedEx has delivered more than 55 kilotons of personal protective equipment, including more than two billion face masks, and more than 9,600 humanitarian aid shipments around the globe.โ
To help reach underserved communities with the COVID-19 vaccine, FedEx has committed $4 million in cash and in-kind transportation support to several nonprofits serving communities in the U.S. and around the world. These include Direct Relief, International Medical Corps, and Heart to Heart International.
โTime-definite express transportation of critical shipments is exactly what our FedEx Express network was built to do when it launched in 1973,โ said Richard W. Smith, regional president of the Americas and executive vice president of global support, FedEx Express. โAlmost five decades later, we are proving true to our founding mission by delivering critical COVID-19 vaccines.โ
โThis is a historic moment and represents a monumental feat for vaccine development and expedient deployment,โ said Mike McDermott, president, Pfizer Global Supply. โOutstanding logistics is critical to get our products to those who need them across the country, and weโre happy to partner with FedEx in this historic effort to save lives and put an end to the COVID-19 pandemic.โ
About the technology:
At FedEx, the information about the package is as important as the package itself as it moves through the network. FedEx SenseAware ID, a Bluetooth low-energy sensor device, will be affixed to vaccine shipments, helping to ensure these temperature-sensitive deliveries move swiftly and safely through the FedEx Express U.S. network with FedEx Priority Overnight service. From origin to destination, dedicated FedEx Priority Alert customer support agents are using SenseAware monitoring technology to track the location of vaccine shipments in near real-time. This technology is complemented by the FedEx Surround platform, which leverages artificial intelligence and predictive tools to proactively monitor conditions surrounding the packages, allowing customer support agents to intervene if weather or traffic delays threaten to impede delivery times.
Quick stats about the FedEx network:
FedEx Express aircraft photo gallery:
FedEx Express aircraft slide show:
ATR has made this announcement:
ATR, the world number one regional aircraft manufacturer, today announces the successful first flight of its new purpose-built regional freighter aircraft. The flight took off at 14:00 from its Saint-Martin site and lasted two hours. During the flight, crew onboard performed a number of tests to measure the new aircraftโs flight envelope and flight performance. The first delivery of this aircraft will be to FedEx Express, the worldโs largest cargo airline and express transportation company, who placed a firm order for 30 aircraft, plus 20 options, in November 2017. The arrival of this new freighter further cements ATRโs leadership position in the regional freighter market where ATR cargo aircraft already represent a third of the in-service regional freighter fleet. 
The brand new straight-from-factory cargo aircraft will offer a number of unique advantages to operators. With a Large Cargo Door included as part of the original design and the same wide cross section as all ATR aircraft, the freighter will be able to accommodate bulk cargo and industry-standard pallets and containers. The aircraft will also provide operators with the very latest avionics suite, which can be continuously upgraded. This effectively futureproofs the -600Fโs state-of-the-art cockpit by allowing cargo airlines to take benefit from future innovations, which will further enhance the aircraftโs efficiency.
Above Copyright Photo: For FedEx Express. (Eurospot)
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