FedEx Express has announced that it will be first to take delivery of the giant Airbus A380-800F in August 2008 and the first to deploy the plane in service for its global customers.
The first A380 cargo plane will be followed by two more by the end of 2008, three more in 2009, three in 2010 and the tenth in 2011. FedEx also holds options for ten additional aircraft.
During the first year of operation, the three FedEx planes will operate on long-range routes between FedEx hubs in Asia and North America. Additional routes from Europe to North America and Europe to Asia will be added as more aircraft are added to the fleet in coming years.
The A380 is capable of flying more than 150 metric tons within 1,100 cubic meters, and provides significantly lower direct operating costs than today's largest flying aircraft. With a range of about 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km), the A380 Freighter’s ton/mile costs are expected to be approximately 15-20% lower than the MD-11 – the company's largest aircraft.
FedEx’s announcement follows UPS’s confirmation of an order for ten Airbus A380 super-jumbo freighter aircraft, delivery of which is scheduled to begin in 2009 and end in 2012
