EXPRESS giant FedEx has announced the order of eight Boeing 777 freighters and ten ATR 72-600 turboprops as third-quarter profits and revenues both improved.

In an investor release, the company said that in March 2025 it had exercised options to purchase an additional eight 777F aircraft as part of its fleet modernisation programme.

Three of the aircraft are expected to be delivered in 2026 and the remaining five in 2027. It also agreed to purchase a further two of the model earlier in the quarter, reports London's Air Cargo Week.

Meanwhile, the company said it would also extend the retirement of the entire Boeing MD-11 fleet from 2028 to the end of 2032. It had been gradually phasing out the aircraft to replace them with more fuel-efficient models, such as the 777F.

In total, FedEx currently operates fifty-seven 777 freighters and has a further 11 on order, including the 10 mentioned above. Its MD-11F stands at 37 aircraft.

Elsewhere, ATR today announced that FedEx has ordered ten ATR 72-600 turboprop freighters to add to its existing order of 30 of the aircraft.

FedEx's third quarter financial performance running to February 28 showed that revenues increased by 2.3 per cent year on year to US$22.2 billion, operating income improved by 4 per cent to $1.3 billion and net income was up 3.4 per cent to $910 million.

"The FedEx team delivered improved profitability while navigating a very challenging operating environment, including a compressed peak season and severe weather events," said Raj Subramaniam, FedEx Corporation president and chief executive.