Air TransportFedEx expects MD-11 fleet return by end of May 2026
FedEx expects its MD-11 fleet to return to service in the company’s fourth fiscal quarter, ending May 31, 2026. The aircraft have been grounded since November following regulatory action.
The company halted MD-11 operations after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an Airworthiness Directive in response to an accident involving a UPS MD-11F on November 4.
FedEx incurred unexpected costs of $175 million to secure alternative trucking and aircraft capacity for freight displaced by the grounded fleet.
FedEx operated 28 MD-11s when the FAA suspended the type days after the UPS accident. The company reported $25 million in costs related to the November grounding, with projected expenses rising to $150 million in December.
“The MD-11 grounding, caused by an UPS aircraft crash in November 4, costs tied to next summer’s spin-off of its Freight trucking business and other items are responsible for the hit to earnings,” said John Dietrich, Chief Financial Officer, according to Reuters.
The FAA’s November directive applies to all DC-10 series aircraft, requiring inspections and repairs before affected models can resume service. The move impacted both commercial and specialized operators.
The UPS Airlines crash on November 4 in Louisville resulted in 14 fatalities including three crew members of the aircraft. The incident involved a McDonnell Douglas MD-11 freighter that was over 30 years old.
The MD-11, developed from the DC-10, is the largest trijet built and entered service in 1990. Production ended in 2000 after 200 units were delivered.
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