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FedEx to Restore Full MD-11 Fleet Before Peak Season Push

FedEx Express will return its complete Boeing MD-11 fleet to service ahead of peak season after grounding the aircraft in November 2025. CEO Raj Subramaniam announced this during a June earnings call. The carrier had grounded all 34 MD-11s following a deadly crash involving a competitor's aircraft. Four aircraft have already resumed operations after coordination with Boeing, the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board. Before the grounding, 25 of the 34 MD-11s were flying. The fleet shutdown forced FedEx to rely on commercial airlift partners during last year's peak season, resulting in a $120 million financial hit from increased operating costs and reduced revenue. The company projects an additional $55 million headwind in the current quarter as it completes the fleet's return. FedEx plans to retire the entire MD-11 fleet by 2032.