B777 freighter lands at FedEx

B777 freighter lands at FedEx    FedEx Express said Tuesday it has taken delivery of its first Boeing 777 freighter.
   “Its payload capacity, range and environmental efficiencies create well-rounded, long-term strategic value for our company in meeting the global shipping demands of customers,” said David J. Bronczek, president and chief executive officer of FedEx Express, in a statement.
   The B777 freighter joins a FedEx fleet of more than 650 planes. The new twin-engine cargo plane has a payload capacity of 215,000 pounds, which is 14,000 pounds more than the company’s MD-11 freighter.
   The company said the plane’s global range enables it to fly between major markets and hubs in Asia, Europe and the United States with more cargo and less time than it takes today, allowing later cut-off times for customers in the markets to drop off their shipments. For instance, the B777 freighter transit times from points in Asia to the United States will be from one to three hours faster than those of the MD-11.
   “The 777F is a game-changer,” said Michael L. Ducker, president of international for FedEx Express. “Our customers will benefit from more point-to-point routes and the shorter flight times, increasing their competitiveness in the global marketplace.”
   FedEx noted that other benefits of the B777 freighter include:
   ' Using 18 percent less fuel than an MD-11.
   ' Engine technology to reduce emissions by 18 percent.
   ' Advanced noise-reduction technology to meet airport noise standards and make landings and takeoffs quieter.
   ' Lower maintenance and operating costs than other planes in its class.
   By April 2010, FedEx Express plans to have four B777 freighters serving routes between Asia and the United States. In all, there will be 15 B777s in the company’s fleet by the end of fiscal year 2014. FedEx Express also has a second order of 15 B777s, which will be delivered between fiscal years 2014 and 2019, and holds options on 15 more B777s.