Gigneil From United States of America, joined Nov 2002, 16215 posts, RR: 88 Reply 2, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 2736 times:
Because at this time the domestic US market is not the profitability driver for the company, and their dollars are best spent elsewhere.
Stitch From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 26718 posts, RR: 83 Reply 3, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 2729 times:
I imagine trucking freight from the larger hubs (handling A300s and DC-10s/MD-11s) to the smaller hubs is more economical then transferring it to 727Fs and 737Fs and flying it.
PlaneDane From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 2718 times:
For years now, the relationship between Boeing and FedEx has seemed a bit frosty. I see FedEx as more of a loyal Airbus customer, now and in the future.
Adriaticus From Mexico, joined May 2004, 1112 posts, RR: 21 Reply 5, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 2701 times:
Quoting Gigneil (Reply 2): Because at this time the domestic US market is not the profitability driver for the company, and their dollars are best spent elsewhere.
Correct.
In addition to the foregoing, FX's B722F fleet is in extremely good shape, most of the aircraft are fully owned, very low use (a couple of cycles per day at the most, one or two weekend days off), and fairly "new". (N217FX was the last B727 ever built).
Kind of "no reason to put money in buying a new pick-up if your fully-owned '2003 model has got only 6,000 miles on it."
This site has allot of interesting information, though I am not sure if everything here is correct.
737-900F
Boeing revealed the 737-900F study group in Sept 2003. The project is believed to be aimed at FedEx who are looking to replace their 727 fleet. It would use the side cargo door from the 700QC and be capable of taking 11 standard 2.24 x 3.18m pallets, 3 more than the -700QC and only 3 less than the 757. The -900 also has a hold volume of 51.7cu.m.
Quoting Adriaticus (Reply 5): FX's B722F fleet is in extremely good shape,
One disadvantage of the 727 is the flight engineer. I remember when I worked for DHL in OSL in 2002 we where told that from CPH to OSL the 727 used 9000 liters, and the 757 used 3000 liters. The A300 used 13000 liters on the same flight. I would believe that the -900 would have even better figures.
Dream no small dream; it lacks magic. Dream large, then go make that dream real - Donald Douglas
Higney85 From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 31 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 2545 times:
There is a reason as to why fedex rarely buys new... They get a better deal when stuff is used. As it has been pointed out there is no need to have brand new stuff for boxes and the usage rate (as far as cycles) is very low. My dad is a MD-11 capt and has been in both the 727 training dept and the Md-11 training dept and from what i hear fedex just waits for a company to get rid of the 11's. As far as the 727 replacement... They use the 72's till they hit really high time and an expensive phase check and give em away for tax deductions- one of them is here at my college (Middle Tennessee State University). I have talked to my dad about the 737 viability in place of the 72's and he said that when he was in the 72 training dept they were about to send some of the instructors to 737 school but canceled it last minute. From what he hears within the company they are waiting for a large 737 carrier to go belly up so they can get a good number of planes for a good price. Thats just my 2 cents..
MrMcCoy From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 377 posts, RR: 2 Reply 9, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 2213 times:
Quoting Higney85 (Reply 7): As it has been pointed out there is no need to have brand new stuff for boxes and the usage rate (as far as cycles) is very low.
Exactly. The only complaints with cargo aircraft come from the NIMBY's at arrival and departure airports.
It only takes five years to go from rumor to standard operating procedure.
Laxintl From United States of America, joined May 2000, 22053 posts, RR: 51 Reply 10, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 2120 times:
Actually Boeing was hoping for a last minute order from Fedex for some new B757PF prior to shutting down the line.
Fedex declined to act on a proposal for 40+ airframes that Boeing had on the table and stated the company would continue to instead evaluate used B737 and 757s.
Just about the same time, Fedex nearly went for a deal on some ex US Air B734s, but backed out at the last minute.
Since that time, I know Fedex has reevaluated its entire aircraft usage and even drawn up a plans were there is no small narrow body freighter, and having the A310 be the smallest type with the exception of its prop fleet.
Overall there are not many Fedex markets that solely require the smallish 727, and instead many of such markets make use of multiple wing 727 flights that can be replaced by a single widebody.
So at the end of the day, its somewhat questionable if Fedex will even replace the 727 with another type. Look at UPS were the 727 has quietly died away without a replacement either.
From the desert to the sea, to all of Southern California
UPS Pilot From United States of America, joined May 1999, 867 posts, RR: 3 Reply 11, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 1948 times:
"Look at UPS were the 727 has quietly died away without a replacement either."
That would be wrong. The 75 757 new pf's that UPS bought thru the 80's and 90's were the 727 sub. The Airbus is filling the 75/DC-8 role at UPS now. Oh yeah those are new builds too.
Laxintl From United States of America, joined May 2000, 22053 posts, RR: 51 Reply 12, posted (7 years 4 months 2 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 1886 times:
Quoting UPS Pilot (Reply 11): That would be wrong. The 75 757 new pf's that UPS bought thru the 80's and 90's were the 727 sub. The Airbus is filling the 75/DC-8 role at UPS now. Oh yeah those are new builds too.
The B757PF is not perse a replacement especially for the very large B727-100F fleets, but instead a significant increase in capacity. Neither UPS nor Fedex to have come up with a small narrowbody type to replace B727 flying.
Nothing wrong with this somewhat misuse of capacity as in many ways can be the most economic option versus bringing in another fleet type.
From the desert to the sea, to all of Southern California
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