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Press Releases
Industry "first" provides unprecedented speed and reliability with direct non-stop MD-11 flight from Osaka to Memphis
HONG KONG, July 30, 1997 - Federal Express Corporation (FedEx) will provide the only overnight shipping from major Asian markets to most cities in North America when it adds an innovative new flight schedule this fall featuring a direct non-stop flight from Osaka, Japan to Memphis, Tennessee.
The non-stop daily flight will be the longest in the industry, cutting transit times across the Pacific Ocean in half -- from two days to one -- for FedEx customers who ship to North America. Door-to-door delivery via FedEx International Priority( service will be by 10:30 a.m. the next business day and will include the company's money-back guarantee.
The new routing, beginning September 1, will be served by a FedEx MD-11 aircraft. The flight will originate in Singapore and stop in Osaka at Kansai International Airport where it will start the 12-hour non-stop flight to Memphis, FedEx's hub for the Americas.
FedEx is the first in the air express transportation industry in southeast Asia to provide next business day service by 10:30 a.m. to most of the United States, including smaller business centers such as Fargo, North Dakota, as well as to Mexico City, and to most of Canada.
As a result of its geographic position and the multiple gateways required in transit, the industry standard for express shipment delivery in southeast Asia is usually two days or more.
FedEx is able to achieve this unprecedented service by substantially reducing the number of intermediate stops in current routing and by launching a direct non-stop flight, resulting in other customer benefits including end-of-business day package pick-up times.
"We're able to offer this unique service, featuring the longest flight of its kind in the world, through special modifications including specially adapted sleeping quarters for crew members and through routing changes," said Michael L. Ducker, senior vice president, Asia Pacific division.
The Western Japan market area also benefits greatly from the flight. FedEx already has direct daily flights from Osaka to Memphis, Tennessee via Anchorage, Alaska providing next- business day service to the U.S. By eliminating the Anchorage stop, the departure time from Osaka can be moved later in the day so that shipments from surrounding cities, including Nagoya, Fukuoka and others, arrive in time for the Osaka-to-Memphis flight.
FedEx is the first in the air express transportation industry in Japan to provide next-business day U.S. service with the latest cut-off time from Nagoya, Fukuoka and other areas around Osaka.
In addition to this new revolutionary flight, FedEx is also introducing a number of other innovations that will improve cycle times and help our customers get their products into the hands of their customers that much faster.
"We are introducing later shipment pick-up times (afternoon collection times) in most markets for the company's Asia overnight service delivered through the FedEx AsiaOne( network. These times improve in many cases by anywhere from one to three hours for Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Singapore," Ducker added.
"FedEx is also broadening its network, providing greater service and access to global and Asian markets. For example, a scheduled, round-the-world flight will also be launched in September. The daily flight originates in Indianapolis and connects Europe to the Middle East and Asia via Paris, Dubai, Bombay, Bangkok and Subic Bay, home of the company's Asia Pacific Hub in the Philippines," said David Bronczek, executive vice president, worldwide operations.
FedEx currently serves the Asia Pacific market with approximately 4,300 employees serving more than 30 countries and territories. The company provides the most extensive trans-Pacific air lift of any major competitor. Operating its own wide-bodied MD-11, DC-10 and A310 aircraft, FedEx offers over 250 flights per week to the following locations: Beijing, Hong Kong, Kaohsiung, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Osaka, Penang, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Subic Bay, Taipei, and Tokyo, as well as destinations in the U.S.
Federal Express is the world's largest express transportation company providing fast and reliable services for more than 2.8 million items in 212 countries each working day. The company employs approximately 130,000 people, has nearly 43,000 drop-off locations, and operates more than 580 aircraft and 38,000 vehicles in its integrated global network. FedEx maintains electronic connections with more than 650,000 users via FedEx PowerShip(, FedEx Ship( and FedEx interNetShipSM. Federal Express reported revenues of US$11.5 billion for its fiscal year ended May 31, 1997.
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