FedEx set to roll out flight from Liege, Belgium to Memphis

Effective early next month, FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx will roll out a new flight that connects the Liège, Belgium-based TNT European air hub to the Memphis, Tenn.-based FedEx World Hub, the company said this week.

FedEx acquired TNT Express in May 2016. FedEx said that this endeavor is a key next step in connecting the FedEx Express and TNT worldwide networks, which it said will provide global TNT customers with direct access to FedEx services in the U.S. and Canada.

“This new flight by FedEx Express is a tangible example of the customer benefits that the acquisition of TNT will bring,” said David Cunningham, President and CEO of FedEx Express. “By combining our strengths, particularly the FedEx Express air network and TNT’s strong European road capabilities and Liège hub, we will connect even more people and possibilities.”

When the service begins, the flight will arrive in Memphis and then head to Shanghai via Seattle and Anchorage before heading back to Liege. FedEx said it will use Boeing 777 Freighters with 116 tons of capacity for this service, with the TNT volumes, upon arrival into Memphis, “injected” into the FedEx network to be delivered across the U.S. and Canada.

And FedEx said TNT customers that ship to North America will see myriad benefits, including:

• broader coverage, faster transit times, and higher weight capabilities;
• consistent two-day transit times for express shipments from Europe to U.S. and Canada destinations, compared with two to four days previously;
• three day transit times to U.S. and Canada destinations for express shipments from key locations in the Middle East, Africa and India;
• optional pre-noon delivery of express parcels;
• four-five day transit times for deferred shipments; and
• higher weight limits for express and deferred shipments of parcels and freight; and
• more opportunities for customers in the U.S. Pacific Northwest market, including reduced cost and increased capacity, with a one day transit time reduction for Shanghai perishable goods

On FedEx’ fiscal third quarter earnings call earlier this week, FedEx President and COO Dave Bronczek said that this initiative is a phased conversion of the intercontinental flights operated by ASL Belgium, the FedEx Express operation. 

The first phase will convert the TNT Transatlantic flight and over time the wide-body operations between Asia and Europe,” he said. “These changes bring benefits to approximately 100,000 existing TNT customers for shipping to the United States and to Canada, with improved transit times and a broader service coverage.”

The executive added that in filling out its 777s coming out of Liège and the operations in Europe, there will be more synergies between the volumes, between TNT of the past and FedEx in Europe, including helping FedEx’ yields, as well as helping product profitability and fundamentally growing volume and revenue.