FedEx launches HK to US, Europe services with 777F

FEDEX Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp., has launched two new flights from Hong Kong to the US and Europe, deploying its new Boeing 777 Freighters, the world's largest twin-engine cargo aircraft.

The new services fly non-stop from Hong Kong to the FedEx super hub in Memphis, Tennessee, as well as direct from Hong Kong to FedEx Express' European hub at Paris-Charles de Gaulle.

"FedEx is committed to providing customers with greater access to markets and opportunities in the US and Europe, as businesses in Hong Kong and in the Asia Pacific region start to emerge from the global economic downturn," said Asia Pacific FedEx Express president David Cunningham.

"These two service enhancements will strengthen FedEx overall network connectivity and operations, positioning the company for long-term growth."

Customers sending shipments with FedEx to the US east coast will be given a two-hour improvement in cut-off time for International Priority and International Economy shipments from Hong Kong. The new call-in cut-off time is 18:18 hours, a company statement said.

"FedEx now offers the best cut-off times in the market for shipments to both the east and west coast to the US (including Canada, Latin and South American markets)," it said.

The other service represents a one business day improvement in transit time on International Priority shipments to Europe.

FedEx deployed its first 777F to support "strong" demand for a direct Shanghai to Memphis service in early January this year.

FedEx Express currently operates four Boeing 777 Freighters on routes between Asia and the US. It said there will be fifteen 777 Freighters in the company's fleet by the end of fiscal 2014.

FedEx Express has a second order of fifteen 777Fs, which will be delivered between fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2019, and holds options on 15 more.

In typical FedEx operations, the 777F offers a payload improvement of 14,000 pounds and range improvement of 2,100 nautical miles over similarly arranged MD-11 Freighters, which until now have been the primary long-haul aircraft in the company's fleet.

(Source: www.schednet.com)