FEDEX SIGNS FOR 10 x A380F + 10 options

[Wizard]

FedEx this week signed a contract for ten A380-800Fs, plus ten options.

FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corporation, will take its first delivery of the firm-ordered aircraft in 2008. In total, Airbus will deliver three A380F aircraft to FedEx in 2008, plus three in 2009 and 2010, and one in 2011. FedEx has not yet announced its engine selection.

"FedEx was one of 20 carriers that worked from the beginning with Airbus on the concept of the A380," said No'l Forgeard. "FedEx is the third customer to place a firm order for the A380 freighter."

The FedEx A380F is expected to be able to carry a freight load of 150 tonnes/330,000 pounds (with a cargo volume capacity of 40,000 cubic feet) a distance of nearly 6,000 nautical miles. These performance characteristics mean the A380F can cross the Pacific in a single flight, eliminating up to a day from door-to-door delivery time.

The FedEx announcement preceded another milestone event at Airbus: It inaugurated 120-acre A380 final assembly site at Toulouse; construction began in January for operation in 2004.

[Huck]

Memphis - Hong Kong. MD-11 is limited to about 50,000 lb load.

If another a/c proves cheaper (i.e. 747-400ER) they'll sell their 380 slots, I'd bet.

[Buster Hyman]

Never mind the tipping, I'd be worried about the squashing!!!!:eek:

[JJflyer]

I still think that the B747X would have been a much better freighter than the A380... Where´s the nose door in the A380 ?

[Flightmech]

air vent

FedEx are in negotiation with FMC to build an all new loader to load both upper decks of the 380. Planned routes are to replace the current restricted payload routes flown by the MD11, for example:
Paris CDG-Subic Bay, Osaka-Memphis and all the express freighter services from Europe (STN/CDG/FRA) to Memphis. New routes planned are also Memphis-Narita

Shame we selected the GP7200 powerplant though, would have preferred the Roller from a maintenance point of view!!
:p

[MidnightSpecial]

I'll believe it when I see them painted purple and sitting on the ramp in Memphis. While it helps that Fred signed for them I recall that we were also supposed to get 737-800s, A-320s, and 747-400s and they never materialized.

Can't wait to fly the A-380 but I am taking a wait and see attitude.