FedEx Express (FX/FDX) is one of the world’s largest cargo airlines. Founded as ‘Federal Express’ in 1971, the air arm carried its first package in 1973. Today the carrier operates a fleet of 741 aircraft and delivers freight to 220 countries per day. Let’s take a look at FedEx’s large freighter fleet, and identify oldest aircraft in service and their origins.
The FedEx fleet in 2024
FedEx has a higher average fleet age than many passenger carriers, with an average aircraft age of 19 years. This is a common phenomenon amongst freighters, many of which are converted passenger aircraft with significant careers behind them. As of April 2024, the carrier operates 13 different types of aircraft on a variety of cargo missions.
Aircraft type Number in fleet
Airbus A300F 65
ATR 42-320F 17
ATR 72-202F 7
ATR 72-212F 13
ATR 72-600F 19
Boeing 737-400 BDSF 7
Boeing 737-800 BCF 8
Boeing 757-200SF 109
Boeing 767-300SF 137
Boeing 777F 57
Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster 235
Cessna 408F SkyCourier 19
McDonnell Douglas MD-11F 48
The oldest widebody – N721FD
The oldest widebody jet in the FedEx fleet is N721FD, a 35-year-old Airbus A300B4-622R(F) built in October 1988. This aircraft operates between 5 and 10 flights per week, exclusively visiting destinations inside the US including Memphis (MEM), New York (JFK), Grand Rapids (GRR), and Laredo (LRD).
This aircraft previously flew for Korean Air (K) as HL7529 before being converted to a freighter.
The oldest trijet – N582FE
Trijets have long formed the backbone of the FedEx fleet, though the carrier has moved to retire its last generation of trijets, the McDonnell Douglas MD11.N602FE, previously the oldest MD11 in the fleet at 34 years old, was retired and flown to Victorville (VCV) in January 2024.
The oldest active MD11 in the fleet is N582FE, a 33-year-old aircraft built in June 1990. Based in Memphis (MEM), the aircraft has most recently visited destinations including Los Angeles (LAX), Oakland (OAK), Miami (MIA), and Anchorage (ANC).
This aircraft was originally delivered to American Airlines (AA/AAL) as a passenger aircraft in 1990, registered as N1751A.
The oldest narrowbody – N935FD
The oldest narrowbody freighter in service with FedEx is N935FD, a 41-year-old Boeing 757-2T7(SF) built in March 1983. It can be seen frequently at airports such as Syracuse (SYR), Nashville (BNA), Memphis (MEM), and Casper (CPR).
The oldest twin turboprop
The oldest turboprop in service at FedEx is N911FX, a 36-year-old ATR 42-300F built in April 1987. This aircraft is operated by FedEx Feeder, and has most recently visited destinations including Great Falls (GTF), Coeur d’Alene (COE), and Kalispell (FCA). This aircraft was a purpose built freighter and has not served as a passenger aircraft.
The oldest single engine turboprop
It’s rare that we can review a single engine aircraft in our fleet reviews, but the FedEx fleet gives us that opportunity. The oldest single engine aircraft in the fleet is N931FE, a 46-year-old Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster built in 1978. Operated on behalf of FedEx feeder by Wiggins Airways, this aircraft flies regular shuttles between Providence (PVD) and Martha’s Vineyard (MVY).
What about the newest aircraft?
The newest widebody aircraft in the FedEx fleet is N295FE, a Boeing 767-300F built in June 2023. It is most frequently seen in Memphis (MEM), New York (JFK) and Indianapolis (IND). This is one of 10 new 767 freighter aircraft built and delivered to FedEx in the past year.
The newest turboprops are N712FE and N768FX.
N712FE is an ATR 72-600 F built in November 2023. It is operated for FedEx Feeder by Mountain Air Cargo, and so far has been seen operating flights between Santo Domingo (SDQ) and Aguadilla (BQN).
N768FX is a Cessna 408F SkyCourier built in January 2024. This aircraft only commenced revenue operations in March 2024, and so far has been seen at Sacramento (SMF), Oroville (OVE) and Fargo (FAR). This is one of 11 examples recently delivered to the airline, and is operated by Corporate Air on behalf of FedEx Feeder.
