US cargo carrier Fedex Express has been forced into making massive operational changes since the crash of UPS Airlines Flight 2976 in early November, which precipitated the indefinite grounding of the global McDonnell Douglas MD-11 fleet.

As the world’s largest MD-11 operator, FedEx has been feeling the strain of the grounding order, which was issued in the lead-up to one of the busiest shipping periods of the year. The airline’s pilots are also suffering from the sudden operational disruption, with FedEx reportedly unable to book hotels for many of its pilots.

FedEx Struggles To Find Enough Hotels For Pilots

As reported by FreightWaves, the cargo airline’s travel managers have been overwhelmed by the extensive flight changes caused by suspending its MD-11 operations, which has left many of its pilots in the lurch on their travels. Pilots will typically be put up in hotels on their trips, with this arranged by the airline. However, the staff responsible for this have reportedly been unable to keep up due to the « increased workload.« 

As such, many FedEx pilots have landed in their layover cities without a confirmed room or transfer from the airport, and pilots have been forced to make their own hotel and travel arrangements. This situation only adds to their workload and stress during a time when they should be resting.

Although this predicament has only come to light recently amid the MD-11 groundings, the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) – which represents FedEx pilots – says it is the result of years of cost-cutting measures that have left the airline’s flight services team severely understaffed. FedEx Master Executive Council, which is a part of ALPA, said in a statement,

« FedEx pilots are being stranded in locations around the world without the services required to operate. Services remain pending until the last minute. Revisions and extensions are treated as normal tools rather than signs of a system that can no longer carry its own weight. »

MD-11 Grounding Could Cost Up To $175 Million

According to a recent Reuters report, FedEx is expecting huge costs due to the unavailability of its MD-11 fleet, which has forced the carrier to shell out on replacement trucks and planes. While this is an expensive proposition at any time of the year, its occurrence during the peak holiday season has only exacerbated costs.

The airline’s Chief Financial Officer, John Dietrich, has estimated the cost at around $175 million for November and December – having recorded related costs of around $25 million in November, the carrier is expecting up to $150 million in additional costs this month as it rushes to fulfill its busy holiday schedule with outsourced capacity.

As a result, the company has lowered its earnings forecast for the current quarter through March 2026. FedEx had a total of 28 MD-11s in active service when the Federal Aviation Administration issued its grounding order, representing a significant chunk of its widebody fleet. The airline is forecasting its MD-11 fleet to return to service during the first half of next year, although required maintenance and inspections could take longer than estimated.

UPS Reports No Problems With Hotels

Fellow US cargo airline UPS Airlines has also been heavily impacted by the MD-11 groundings, although the situation doesn’t appear to have affected its ability to accommodate its pilots. Union spokesperson Brian Gaudet stated that he is unaware of any UPS pilots who have dealt with a lack of accommodation like their FedEx counterparts.

Both of these airlines are the largest MD-11 operators in the world, with UPS also flying a similar number of aircraft. With the majority of these airframes exceeding 30 years old, both carriers have faced questions over the safety of these aging airplanes and whether they will ever be able to return to service.

FedEx spokesman Jonathan Lyons told FreightWaves that the carrier has implemented « robust contingency plans » to deal with the unprecedented situation. These include mobilizing spare aircraft and onboarding additional staff to deal with shortages.