FedEx Adds 777 Freighter Orders

FedEx Express, seeking to take advantage of surging demand, will add six 777 freighters to its order of all-cargo planes from Boeing, the carrier said Friday.

The new purchases bring to 38 the number of 777 freighters FedEx has ordered, including six the Memphis-based carrier has already started to use on trans-Pacific routes, which are seeing the strongest recovery in air freight trade.

FedEx has put four of the 777 freighters into service and is using the twin-engine, widebody aircraft to add space and speed up transit times on U.S.-Asia routes.

The additions are part of a growing move by airlines to add capacity to an air freight business that idled dozens of cargo aircraft since the global demand downturn hit the industry.

Thai Airways and MASKargo both recently announced new freighter services using leasing agreements with 777 operator Southern Air.