UPS’s (NYSE:UPS) first 747-400 arrived at the company’s global air hub here yesterday for its public debut, ready to begin fulfilling the global mission emblazoned on its fuselage – „Synchronizing the world of commerce.“
UPS will fly the jumbo freighter on its long-range international routes, primarily into the Asia-Pacific region. Regular destinations for UPS’s first 747-400 will include Hong Kong; Incheon, South Korea; Sydney, Australia, and Shanghai, where the company is building its China air hub. Ultimately, the company will use the aircraft on its „around the world“ flights with stops in Cologne, Germany; Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Mumbai, India.
„As we continue to see strong international growth, the 747-400 is a perfect fit for UPS,“ observed Mike Eskew, UPS’s chairman and CEO. „It has tremendous range and payload capacity so we can satisfy the need of customers to move packages and freight to overseas markets. In addition, this is a plane that has a strong record in terms of safety, reliability and environmental friendliness.“
UPS will take delivery of three new 747-400s in 2007 and five more in 2008. In addition, the company will acquire five more of the aircraft from other carriers by 2010, bringing the total fleet size to 13.
The 747-400 has a payload of 273,300 pounds with a range of 4,400 nautical miles. It has 30 load positions on its main deck and can carry 32 smaller containers on its lower deck. The aircraft is powered by General Electric CF6-80C2B5F engines.
The 747-400 will be the first freighter in the UPS fleet with a hinged nose. The aircraft’s nose-loading capability is ideal for air freight, allowing for extra large or extra long shipments.
While variants of the Boeing 747 have flown for nearly four decades, the UPS’s -400 series are updated with the latest flight technology. High tech features include:
- The Airplane Health Management system, which allows the aircraft to diagnose its own problems while in flight and transmit notifications to aircraft maintenance operations on the ground.
- ADS-B, a situational awareness technology that improves flight safety and efficiency by allowing pilots to „see“ other aircraft around them.
- The Electronic Flight Bag, a computer that replaces paper charts and manuals used by pilots in the cockpit.
„The way the 747-400 matches its technological sophistication with its proven track record, the aircraft is a great addition for UPS,“ said Airline and International Vice President Bob Lekites. „We both combine a long history of success with visionary engineering for tomorrow’s global customers.“
UPS, which is celebrating its 100th birthday this year, is the world’s largest package delivery company and a global leader in supply chain services, offering an extensive range of options for synchronizing the movement of goods, information and funds. Headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., UPS serves more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. UPS’s stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange (UPS) and the company can be found on the Web at UPS.com. To get UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS.
