From Yahoo Finance: 2025-05-06 10:31:00

FedEx has shifted a large freighter from its overnight parcel network to focus on deferred cargo, aiming to attract more business from freight forwarders. The company added a nonstop flight between Liège, Belgium, and Memphis, Tennessee, increasing frequency to eight times per week using a Boeing 777 freighter. This move is part of a broader transformation to streamline the air network, reduce costs, and improve customer service. FedEx redeployed the widebody aircraft from its Purple network to its Orange network, which targets premium international air cargo like pharmaceuticals and automotive parts. The Liège hub plays a critical role in the Orange Network, offering efficient cross-border connections for deferred and freight volumes. FedEx’s air infrastructure streamlining effort has gained momentum after a large U.S. Postal Service contract expired in September.

The Purple network focuses on cross-border parcel customers seeking the highest speed, with dedicated aircraft arriving overnight at FedEx hubs for next-day delivery. The company is now targeting the $80 billion deferred airfreight market for growth. Orange flights put FedEx in direct competition with all-cargo carriers for priority, high-yield international freight that generates more profit per pound than general consignments. These flights are scheduled into primary and regional sortation centers during the daytime to maximize efficiency in building dense pallets. FedEx has transformed its Liège terminal into a dedicated intercontinental freight hub for Europe, supporting nonstop trans-Atlantic flights to Indianapolis and Oakland, California.



Read more at Yahoo Finance: FedEx converts parcel freighter to heavy cargo operation