FedEx drops Airbus order and goes with Boeing
FedEx Express, which is based in Memphis, Tenn., canceled its order for 10 Airbus A380 superjumbo jets and went with 15 Boeing 777 long-range aircraft.
The FedEx Corp. Tuesday said in a statement that “significant delays” in the A380 deliveries prompted the shift to the U.S. aeronautics giant.
Besides ordering 15 airborne freighters, each of which carries a list price of around USD236 million, FedEx also obtained an option for another 15 Boeing 777 aircraft.
“The availability and delivery timing of this aircraft, coupled with its attractive payload range and economics, make this choice the best decision for FedEx, its customers, shareowners and employees,” said FedEx Chief Executive Frederick Smith.
FedEx Express continues to be Airbus’ largest wide-body airplane customer and will add new and used Airbus wide-body aircraft to its fleet. Six new A300-600 aircraft are scheduled to join the FedEx fleet in 2007.
The 777 is the world’s largest twin-engine cargo aircraft with a range of more than 6,100 nautical miles and a revenue payload capacity of 171,000 pounds. FedEx expects to take delivery of four of the 777 aircraft in calendar year 2009, eight in 2010 and the remaining three in 2011.
