FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp., announced the launch of four new intercontinental flights originating from Asia Pacific (APAC), providing improved connectivity, with weekly capacity of almost 1,400 tons (1,390,000 kgs), and greater access to APAC customers on the trans-Pacific, intra-Asia, and Europe lanes.
In a statement, it said the growth of e-commerce will continue to demand higher efficiency and these new flights reinforce FedEx commitment to meeting demand for reliable capacity and enhanced service, particularly for e-commerce and heavyweight shipments in the region.
E-commerce growth in APAC cited
FedEx noted that in 2020 alone, online retail sales in APAC generated approximately US$2.45 trillion, accounting for more than 60% of global e-commerce sales, and over half of online shoppers in APAC made cross-border purchases.
"The two trans-Pacific flights departing from the FedEx APAC Hub in Guangzhou via Anchorage to Oakland, and via Anchorage to Indianapolis and Memphis, and returning via Anchorage and Incheon to Guangzhou five times a week, provide customers with enhanced connectivity and capacity between Southern China, North Asia and North America," FedEx said.
It added that the third trans-Pacific flight will connect Beijing to the FedEx World Hub in Memphis. FedEx noted that this flight operates from Beijing via FedEx North Pacific Regional Hub in Osaka, and Anchorage, before arriving in Memphis, providing six extra connections to the US from China every week.
In addition, FedEx noted that its customers throughout the region would benefit from additional connectivity and reliable capacity to Europe, with the Boeing 777 flights operating from the FedEx APAC Hub in Guangzhou, twice, and from the FedEx North Pacific Regional Hub in Osaka, thrice a week, to the FedEx Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Hub in Paris.
"APAC is emerging as a mega marketplace with merchandise exports forecast to show a strong rebound of 13% Year-on-Year (YoY) in 2021. With China’s exports hitting a 32% YoY increase, it is followed closely by growth seen in Japan’s exports, and South Korea, which is now exceeding the size of its pre-pandemic economy," FedEx said.
"Benefitting from strong export demand from major trading partners the US and China, key Southeast Asian economies are also starting to see rebound," it added, noting that for instance, Vietnam exports a wide range of manufacturing products to foreign countries, with 23% of exports going to the U.S. valued at US$ 61 billion.
"FedEx is focused on meeting the evolving needs of our customers, and this network enhancement, further demonstrates our strong commitment to supporting our customers and this region to recovery. We are seeing the overall demand for exports from Asia Pacific fast recovering to pre-COVID levels," said Kawal Preet, president of the Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa (AMEA) region at FedEx Express.
"These additional flights will empower our customers to harness the full potential of cross-border commerce, forging stronger intra-Asia, trans-Pacific and Asia-Europe trade flows, as economies across Asia Pacific continue to rebound," she added.
FedEx currently operates around 200 weekly flights in and out of APAC to trans-Pacific and Europe, and connects APAC customers to the company’s extensive global network.
