FedEx turns green with Boeing 757

Global- FedEx Express has launched its inaugural revenue flight using a Boeing 757 freighter. Future flights to Washington will see reduced greenhouse gas emissions and noise levels in line with FedEx's dedication to conscientious growth.

The new route between the Memphis International Airport (MEM) and the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), a new delivery destination for FedEx, will fly eight times per week.

FedEx hopes the move will extend the reliability, connectivity and quality of service throughout the mid-Atlantic, while maintaining the company's commitment to growth in an efficient, environmentally conscious way.

Jim Parker, senior vice president of Air Operations for FedEx Express explained, "Our plans to replace the Boeing 727 aircraft with more efficient Boeing 757s allow us to aggressively upgrade our fleet while reducing our overall, long-term energy investment. Also, these fleet initiatives create and sustain long-term stockholder value by reducing our reliance on traditional energy sources and mitigating our exposure to potential price increases and supply shortages."

The Boeing 757, notable for its improved fuel efficiency and reduced noise levels, will gradually replace the less fuel-efficient Boeing 727 aircraft from service. An additional 11 Boeing 757s will come into service next year, while the Boeing 777 which provides greater payload capacity and uses 18 percent less fuel than planes in the company's current international fleet will be introduced in 2009.

FedEx hopes that with improved fuel-burn efficiencies and cutting greenhouse gas emissions, it can reduce fuel consumption by up to 36% and increase flight capacity by 20%.

In addition to the introduction of Boeing 727s, FedEx intends to step up efforts to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions across the operation. Ground support equipment at FedEx operations at select airports has been converted from internal combustion engine models to electric units, saving 9 million gallons of fuel annually. FedEx Express employees also increase fuel efficiency and reduce fuel emissions during operations with more than 30 initiatives that range from improvements in flight planning to aircraft operation efficiencies.