UPS, FEDEX RESUME AIR OPERATIONS
UPS and FedEx Express, the express carrier giants, said they resumed air operations late yesterday, following word that U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta cleared airports and commercial airlines to resume operations in the United States.
UPS, which said it expected to have its air operation “full up” last night, had already come into compliance with the more stringent security guidelines issued by the DOT's Federal Aviation Administration Wednesday. The Wednesday directive allowed some empty aircraft to be repositioned by airlines. UPS took advantage of the opportunity by moving 11 jet freighters Wednesday night and an additional 25 to 30 jets were to have been repositioned Thursday.
FedEx said it repositioned aircraft Thursday morning and began operations by afternoon.
“We are optimistic that we will be able to resume near normal operations (today) to the extent that safety precautions and regulatory agencies allow,” the company said in a statement.
UPS said it expected its resumed air operations to deliver almost all of backlogged NextDay Air express packages by this morning.
“We have been assured by the various U.S. airports that we use that they will be up and running tonight after complying with the FAA's directives,” said Jim Kelly UPS chairman and chief executive officer. “So we're prepared for full operation. We're also hopeful the FAA will clear the way for international flights soon.”
Since Tuesday's terrorist attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania grounded air operations nationwide, UPS said its ground operations have been running at “near normal fashion,” while expanding to handle many of the express packages that would have traveled by air. However, some packages’ arrival have been delayed.
Memphis-based FedEx said all other operating companies, FedEx Ground, FedEx Custom Critical and FedEx Freight, are operating normally with the exception of portions of Manhattan and Washington, DC.
“We have continued to scan all packages so that customers are able to track the status of their shipments. Some FedEx Express shipments may continue to experience delays until we are permitted to put our air network fully in place,” the company said. FedEx Express Money Back Guarantee will be reinstated once operations return to normal.
FedEx Express air and ground networks within Asia, Europe and parts of Latin America are operating. However, only limited transborder operations between the United States, Canada and Mexico are occurring. Flights to and from the United States will be reinstated when permitted by the FAA.