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Custom-built ATR 72-600 gives FedEx more cargo capacity

Operations outsourced to ASL Airlines

Eric Kulisch
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FedEx Express is the launch customer for the ATR 72-600 freighter. (Photo: FedEx)

FedEx Express (NYSE: FDX) said Tuesday it has taken delivery of its first custom-built turbo-prop freighter. Built by Toulouse, France-based ATR for regional service, the investment furthers FedEx’s fleet modernization program. 

The ATR 72-600 production freighter will be used to feed cargo from smaller communities to larger airports where FedEx operates. The fuel-efficient aircraft will be operated in Europe by FedEx Express contractor ASL Airlines Ireland, which also flies on behalf of  DHL, and UPS in Europe. A sister ASL company recently began transportation service for Amazon Air.

ASL Airlines Ireland is a large ATR and Boeing 737 operator.

It is an upgrade for FedEx because it is the first feeder freighter in the fleet capable of carrying containers or palletized freight, benefiting from a wide and open fuselage. It also has a large cargo door. With a 9-ton payload, it can carry bulk cargo, five 88-by-108-foot pallets or up to seven LD3 containers.


FedEx is the ATR 72-600 launch customer and has 30 aircraft on order, with options for 20 more. ATR conducted its first test flight of the new aircraft in late September.

There are currently about 130 converted ATR freighter aircraft in operation, representing one-third of the global regional freighter fleet, according to ATR.

FedEx said the two aircraft being replaced by the new ATRs will be donated to Madrid airport where they will be used for fire services training.

ATR is a joint venture between Airbus and Italian aerospace company Leonardo. FedEx has 40 older-model ATRs in its fleet. 


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Eric Kulisch

Eric is the Supply Chain and Air Cargo Editor at FreightWaves. An award-winning business journalist with extensive experience covering the logistics sector, Eric spent nearly two years as the Washington, D.C., correspondent for Automotive News, where he focused on regulatory and policy issues surrounding autonomous vehicles, mobility, fuel economy and safety. He has won two regional Gold Medals and a Silver Medal from the American Society of Business Publication Editors for government and trade coverage, and news analysis. He was voted best for feature writing and commentary in the Trade/Newsletter category by the D.C. Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He won Environmental Journalist of the Year from the Seahorse Freight Association in 2014 and was the group's 2013 Supply Chain Journalist of the Year. In December 2022, Eric was voted runner up for Air Cargo Journalist by the Seahorse Freight Association. As associate editor at American Shipper Magazine for more than a decade, he wrote about trade, freight transportation and supply chains. He has appeared on Marketplace, ABC News and National Public Radio to talk about logistics issues in the news. Eric is based in Vancouver, Washington. He can be reached for comments and tips at ekulisch@freightwaves.com