FedEx Corp. landed a Boeing 777 freighter aircraft painted in a retro 1973 color scheme and the Memphis metropolitan region renamed its airport Frederick W. Smith International Airport in honor of FedEx founder Fred Smith, who died in June of last year.
Today, FedEx (NYSE: FDX) delivers over 18 million packages a day around the world and sorts more than 2.4 million packages daily at its Memphis World Hub, located at the newly dedicated airport.
Tuesday’s renaming ceremony coincided with the inaugural FedEx FWS Day of Service, which celebrates his love for his adopted hometown, how he became one its fiercest economic champions, and his philosophy of community service. Under Smith, FedEx encouraged team members to contribute time and effort to support communities where they live and work.
After serving in the Vietnam War and retiring from the U.S. Marine Corps, Smith established Federal Express in Memphis, Tennessee, for its strategic location and reliable weather. Over more than five decades, Smith’s investments built the express airline’s small terminal into a massive global logistics hub that is indispensable infrastructure for hundreds of billions of dollars in economic activity each year.
As a tribute to Smith’s shared history with the city of Memphis, FedEx unveiled a mural along Plough Blvd., which skirts the airport. The artwork features a portrait of Smith composed of the iconic FedEx purple aircraft tails, FedEx announced.
“Moving forward, every plane, person, and package that passes through Frederick W. Smith International Airport will carry the spirit of our visionary founder and the pride of a city that connects the world,” said CEO Raj Subramaniam at the dual event hosted along with the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority.
The event concluded with a ceremonial landing of Flight 1944, a FedEx 777 painted in the company’s original purple and red/orange livery, with the words Federal Express
The flight number honors the year Smith was born. The aircraft is named Rosie after one of Smith’s granddaughters who was born shortly before his passing. This naming continues the longstanding tradition of naming aircraft after employees’ children.
(Why It Matters: FedEx was a pioneer of the express air logistics industry and aviation who had a huge impact on how economies operate and how we consume goods.)
There were no 777s when Smith started FedEx. The first plane in the fleet was the small Dassault Falcon passenger aircraft, which he had to convert to an all-cargo aircraft with an enlarged door. On its first night of service in 1973, FedEx Express delivered 186 packages from Memphis, Tennessee, to 25 cities with 14 Dassault Falcon business jets.
“Today, we immortalize a true visionary who reshaped the logistics industry and elevated our city’s footprint on the global stage,” Terry Blue, president and CEO of Memphis Shelby County Airport Authority, said in a statement. “As passengers travel through Frederick W. Smith International Airport, we want them to be reminded of the relentless drive, innovation, and community spirit that Fred Smith championed throughout his life.”
The FWS Day of Service also is a part of Purple Week, the company’s global, enterprise-wide celebration grounded in its “People-Service-Profit” mission statement. This week, more than 120 FedEx Cares volunteer and community impact events are happening around the world, part of the company’s global community engagement program. FedEx said the day of service will continue annually.
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Write to Eric Kulisch at ekulisch@freightwaves.com.
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