New Freighters For FedEx

When FedEx ordered 50 ATR 72-600Fs, it was looking at more connectivity and with the advantage of carrying both bulk cargo and Unit Load Device (ULD) configurations, the plane will prove to be a winner in countries like India.

- Christian Scherer

In the beginning of November 2017, when ATR readied the media about an imminent announcement, aviation journalists believed it would be about the much-talked-about 90-seat turboprop. Instead, ATR unveiled a freighter variant of its workhorse, the 72- 600 that international parcel giant FedEx was ordering.

FedEx Express announced that it had placed a firm order with French aircraft manufacturer Avions de Transport Regional (ATR) for 30 ATR 72-600Fs, with options to purchase an additional 20. These aircraft will be the first new ATRs to be directly delivered from the factory in a freighter configuration. This new aircraft version, designated as the ATR 72-600F, has a brand new windowless fuselage and is equipped with a forward Large Cargo Door (LCD) and a rear upper hinged cargo door. ATR reported that there would be no changes to the structure of the fuselage, wings, landing gear and engines in the new freighter design. While the cost of the deal was not disclosed, the list price for a single aircraft is $26.8 million.

The order of the ATR 72-600Fs is a part of FedEx’s efforts to modernise its fleet. Over the last couple of years, the Memphis-based cargo carrier has been ordering aircraft – and retiring its Boeing 727s, MD-10s, and MD-11s – that are fuel-efficient and have large cargo capabilities like the Boeing 777, 767 and 757

Deliveries of the ATR 72-600Fs to FedEx Express will begin in 2020. These new ATRs will also be the first ATR 72-600s that will operate in a cargo configuration, as well as being the first ones equipped with an LCD directly from the factory.