MD-11s Will Return to Service

FedEx Corp. has consistently projected a rosy outlook for its fleet of 28 MD-11 widebody freighters, despite the fatal crash of UPS Flight 2976 in November that led rival UPS to pull the plug on its MD-11 fleet. The Federal Aviation Administration banned MD-11s from flying until the entire fleet is thoroughly inspected and any necessary repairs are completed. This ban has had a significant impact on FedEx's operations, forcing the company to outsource some airlift to other carriers and take steps to make up for the lost capacity at a cost of $175 million during the peak shipping season.

["The National Transportation Safety Board found fatigue cracks in a structural section that held an engine to the left-wing of the MD-11. This discovery has raised concerns about the safety of the aircraft, but FedEx remains confident in its ability to return the fleet to service. The company's CEO, Richard Smith, stated during the February Investor Day outlook that FedEx is 'highly confident in the safe return of those aircraft.'", ["Aviation authorities have been mum about the status of MD-11 inspections, which has led to speculation about the timeline for the aircraft's return to service. Boeing issued a service bulletin 14 years ago disclosing four previous separations of an attachment that helps hold engines to the MD-11's wing, according to a National Transportation Safety Board report in January. This history suggests that the MD-11 may have some inherent design flaws that need to be addressed before it can safely return to service.", ["UPS announced in late January that it would permanently retire its 27 MD-11 aircraft, citing concerns about the safety of the fleet. The company plans to replace them with more modern 767-300 freighters already on order from Boeing. This move has dealt a significant blow to FedEx's plans to maintain a large MD-11 fleet, but the company remains committed to returning its aircraft to service.", ["Western Global Airlines, the only other MD-11 operator, has been silent about its plans for the aircraft. FedEx has been consistently optimistic that the MD-11s will receive a safety clearance and resume flying in its air network. The company's Chief Financial Officer, John Dietrich, declared at an investor conference that the inspection process was expected to be relatively quick and that the airline would return MD-11 cargo jets to service on a rolling basis after they passed safety checks and completed any necessary repairs.", ["FedEx did not begin to remove MD-11s from its December schedule until late November, even as UPS had determined that the inspection process would last several months. On December 18, Dietrich said FedEx was projecting the aircraft would return to service in the spring period. This optimism is based on the company's confidence in its maintenance operation and crew training on the MD-11.", ["The MD-11 has been a key part of FedEx's operations for many years, but the airline division has retired about 40 MD-11s over the past four years. Management recently implemented a new strategy aimed at capturing a larger share of the $90 billion for-hire airfreight market. This shift in strategy is driven by rising demand for heavy-freight air transport and FedEx's commitment to adapting to changing market conditions.", ['FedEx has extended the retirement deadline for the full MD-11 fleet from 2028 until 2032 due to rising demand for heavy-freight air transport. The airline division has also ordered Boeing 777 and ATR cargo aircraft, which will help to offset the loss of capacity from the MD-11s.', ["The return of the MD-11s to service is a significant development in the airfreight market, as it suggests that FedEx is confident in its ability to safely operate the aircraft. This confidence is based on the company's commitment to safety and its ability to adapt to changing market conditions."]]]]]]]]