UPS has started retiring its ageing MD-11 freighters as part of a fleet renewal programme aimed at cutting costs and improving efficiency amid weaker shipping demand, reported New York's FreightWaves.

The company's operating profit fell 3.3 per cent in the fourth quarter on lower revenues, with high inflation, the Ukraine war and COVID restrictions in China slowing global growth. UPS said six of its 42 MD-11s will be retired this year, with the first aircraft withdrawn on January 2 and flown to Southern California Logistics Airport in Victorville for storage.

The MD-11s will be replaced by 28 Boeing 767-300 freighters previously ordered, seven of which are due for delivery this year. The twin-engine 767s offer lower operating costs, greater reliability and reduced carbon emissions compared with the tri-engine MD-11s.

UPS Airlines president Jim Joseph said the MD-11s had been a mainstay on international routes since 2001 but will now be replaced with more efficient 767s. The MD-11 has a payload of more than 207,000 pounds, while the 767 carries 132,000 pounds with fewer containers and shorter range.