FedEx Express (FedEx), the world’s largest express transportation company and a subsidiary of FedEx Corp., will launch a flight linking TNT’s European air hub in Liège, Belgium to the FedEx World Hub in Memphis, U.S. by early April 2017. From Memphis the aircraft will fly to Shanghai (China) through Seattle (U.S.) and Anchorage (U.S.) before returning to Liège.
“This new flight by FedEx Express is a tangible example of the customer benefits that the acquisition of TNT will bring,” said David Cunningham, president and CEO of FedEx Express. “By combining our strengths, particularly the FedEx Express air network and TNT’s strong European road capabilities and Liège hub, we will connect even more people and possibilities.”
FedEx Express will use Boeing 777 Freighters which offer 116 tons of capacity for the Liège-Memphis service. Once in Memphis, the TNT volumes will be injected into the FedEx network for delivery across the U.S. and Canada. This step is taken in order to boost the global networks of FedEx Express and TNT, which will help worldwide TNT customers direct access to FedEx services in the U.S. and Canada.
TNT customers shipping to North America will benefit from broader service coverage, sooner transit times and higher weight capabilities, while continuing to work with TNT as they do at present. Two to four days of express shipments from Europe to U.S. and Canada will take only two days once the flight starts operating. Other improvements include, three day transit times to U.S. and Canada destinations for express shipments from key locations in the Middle-East, Africa and India, elective pre-noon delivery of express parcels, four-five day transit times for deferred shipments, higher weight limits for express and delayed shipments of parcels and freight, reduced cost and increased capacity, with a one-day transit time reduction for Shanghai perishable goods, reduced cost and increased capacity, with a one-day transit time reduction for Shanghai perishable goods.
David Binks, Regional president Europe, FedEx Express Europe, and CEO of TNT added, “North America, and the U.S. in particular, is Europe’s major trading partner. The introduction of a direct FedEx Express flight from Liège to Memphis is excellent news for TNT customers shipping to North America. It also reinforces the role of the TNT hub in Liège as a significant operation for the group, complementing the FedEx Express hubs at Paris Charles-de-Gaulle and Cologne airports.”
