FedEx is preparing to return its MD-11 freighter fleet to service in May, ending around six months of grounding for the aircraft.
The MD-11F fleet had been grounded after the fatal crash of a UPS MD-11F on 4 November last year. Following the accident, the US Federal Aviation Administration issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive requiring MD-11 freighter operators to inspect their aircraft for potential faults.
According to Cargo Facts, FedEx Chief Operating Officer Richard Smith said during a recent Wings Club presentation that the aircraft were now ready to go.
Earlier this year, FedEx had confirmed that it was working with Boeing and the FAA to bring the aircraft back into service during its fourth quarter, which ends on 31 May.
Planespotters data shows that FedEx has 29 MD-11Fs in its fleet, all currently parked. Most of the aircraft are more than 30 years old, with the oldest around 36 years old.
The decision to return the aircraft to service may surprise some observers, given the age of the fleet.
UPS, by contrast, retired all of its MD-11Fs in the fourth quarter of 2025 and said it would replace them with Boeing 767 freighters.
Western Global Airlines also operates MD-11Fs, with 15 aircraft currently parked, according to Planespotters data.
Although the initial grounding raised concerns about cargo capacity, the impact on international airfreight has been limited, as MD-11Fs have largely been used on domestic routes.
