FedEx Express, the world’s largest express transportation company, is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its scheduled transatlantic service. On June 15, 1985, a fleet of seven Federal Express Boeing 727s took to the skies, establishing links between New York, London, and Brussels, redefining global commerce and connectivity.
Federal Express, founded 14 years previously in Little Rock, Arkansas, was laying the groundwork for a new era in global trade.
The new transatlantic route wasn’t just about moving packages; it was about laying the groundwork for an era of unprecedented economic integration. Faxes were phased out, PCs appeared, and air freight of everything from pharmaceuticals, to machine parts, and perishable foods flourished.
From its small beginnings in 1973, FedEx is now a global network handling over 17 million shipments every single day.
Initially serving just 25 cities – all in the US – in 1973, FedEx now connects more than 220 countries and territories, enabling a level of global commerce previously unimaginable. Its workforce has grown from 389 employees to half a million globally.
Regional president, Wouter Roels, comments: “In 1985, the concept of rapid, reliable transatlantic shipping was just coming to the fore, as groundbreaking as the first commercial internet connections that would soon follow. Our commitment to connecting Europe and North America then, and now, has played a crucial role in the evolution of modern supply chains. Just as personal computers began to revolutionise offices, the FedEx effect established the physical infrastructure to allow the global trade we all rely on today to flourish.”
Today, FedEx’s operates two air hubs in Europe alone, and 28 road hubs connecting 45 countries daily, It sorts an average of 2 million packages daily at over 500 pick-up and delivery stations in Europe.
It connect 90% of Europe to most US business centres next day. European e-commerce traders particularly benefit from day-definite international shipping services.
Roels adds: “The transatlantic trade relationship continues to be a cornerstone of the global economy. While the dynamics have certainly evolved – from the rise of e-commerce to the focus on sustainable logistics – our mission remains the same: to provide certainty in an uncertain world. We are proud to have been a part of European trade for four decades, and look forward to facilitating ever greater growth, and innovation in the years to come.”
