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Press Releases
BEIJING, December 7, 2000 - FedEx Express ("FedEx"), the
world's largest express transportation company, delivered
two giant pandas from China to the Washington Dulles International
Airport today (China time). The pair was transferred to a
caravan of FedEx vehicles for the final leg of their journey
to the Smithsonian Institution's National Zoological Park
in Washington, D.C.
FedEx provided air transportation, ground transportation
and logistical support, for the pandas, which were born and
previously housed at the China Research and Conservation
Center for the Giant Panda in Wolong, Sichuan Province. Tian
Tian, a three-year-old male panda, and Mei Xiang, a two-year-old
female panda, were placed in separate custom-built transport
containers paid for by FedEx for their approximately 17-hour
flight aboard a custom-painted FedEx MD-11 jet, renamed "FedEx
PandaOne." The aircraft took off from Chengdu, China, on
December 6, 2000 at 11:00 a.m. (China time), continued eastward
across the International Date Line, and stopped at the FedEx
facility in Anchorage, Alaska where "FedEx PandaOne" refuelled
and, due to the lengthy flight time, had a crew change. U.S.
Customs officials, mindful of the sensitivity of the cargo,
expedited their procedures and within 90 minutes the pandas
were airborne for the final six-hour flight to Washington
D.C.
FedEx pilots and drivers who were selected to transport the
pandas are some of the company's most seasoned veterans.
"This shipment is symbolic of what we do every day." said
Mike Padron, Captain of the flight from Anchorage to Dulles.
"Every day, FedEx circles the globe, making deliveries that
are very, very important to people. It brings a real sense
of job satisfaction." Padron's fellow crewmember on the flight
from Anchorage was Captain Ken Jeisel. The flight crew from
Chengdu to Anchorage included Captain Ryan Swah, Captain
Paul Bjornstad, and Captain Jayme Akin. Driving the pandas
from Dulles to the National Zoo were Dennis Halsey and Dominic
Gorruso, each with over 20 years safe driving experience
with FedEx.
Veterinarians from the National Zoo and China Research and
Conservation Center for the Giant Panda accompanied the pandas
on their trans-Pacific journey. Over the past five months,
FedEx representatives in the United States and China worked
with both U.S. and Chinese government officials, as well
as Smithsonian Institution and National Zoo representatives,
to assure that all necessary plans were in place to provide
a safe and comfortable flight for the pandas. In preparation
for the pandas arrival, FedEx launched a new web site dedicated
to the shipment. Located at www.fedex.com/pandas, "Absolutely,
Positively .... Pandas", it provides transportation updates,
an arrival countdown clock, and the ability to track the
pandas during the transport.
When FedEx entered the marketplace in China in 1984, it began
putting in place the critical elements needed to provide
consistent express freight and document transport for its
customers. FedEx now serves 190 cities in China and plans
to expand service to 100 additional cities within the next
five years. FedEx provides reliable pickup and delivery,
international line-haul using its own aircraft to link China
to the extensive FedEx regional and global networks, and
rapid customs clearance. Via the FedEx AsiaOne network, FedEx
provides Chinese importers and exporters with fast and reliable
address to cities throughout Asia and the rest of the world.
FedEx employs more than 6,300 people and serves more than
30 countries and territories in the Asia Pacific region,
and it provides the industry's most extensive trans-Pacific
airlift.
FedEx Express, a $15 billion subsidiary of FedEx Corp., connects
areas that generate 90% of the world's gross domestic product
in 24-48 hours with door-to-door, customs-cleared service
and a money-back guarantee. The company's unmatched air route
authorities and infrastructure make it the world's largest
express transportation company, providing fast, reliable
and time-definite transportation of more than 3.3 million
items to 210 countries each working day. FedEx employs approximately
149,000 employees and has more than 46,000 drop-of locations,
663 aircraft and 49,000 vehicles in its integrated global
network. The company maintains electronic connections with
more than 2.5 million customers via FedEx ShipManager®
Workstation, FedEx ShipManager Software®, and FedEx interNetShip®.
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