FedEx plane over clouds













Time Flies – FedEx in Europe Timeline

Innovation propelled the take-off of FedEx, and it continues to fuel our success.

Our history dates back to 1965 when our CEO and Chairman Frederick W. Smith, then a Yale undergraduate, designed a cutting-edge new system that would allow for the safe delivery of time-sensitive shipments.

Within a decade, he had established Federal Express Corp – the world’s first overnight delivery company, changing the transportation industry forever. Entering Europe in 1984, FedEx Express currently serves hundreds of cities and markets with its intercontinental and international express delivery services.

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As a Yale undergraduate, Frederick W. Smith writes a term paper outlining a system to accommodate urgent, time-sensitive shipments such as medicine, computer parts, and electronics. He receives an average grade.

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Frederick W. Smith founds Federal Express Corp. in Little Rock, Arkansas.

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Old FedEx truck and aricraft

Federal Express relocates operations to Memphis, Tennessee.

On the first night of continuous operation, 389 Federal Express team members and 14 Dassault Falcon jets deliver 186 packages overnight to 25 U.S. cities – and the modern air/ground express industry is born.

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Federal Express purchases seven Boeing 727 aircraft, each with a cargo capacity of 40,000 pounds – almost seven times that of the Dassault Falcon.

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Federal Express Corporation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange; the ticker symbol is FDX.

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FedEx's first hub in Memphis

Federal Express opens its SuperHub adjacent to Memphis International Airport.

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Federal Express acquires Gelco Express International, a worldwide courier with service to 84 countries/territories.

FedEx Express also launches operations in Asia Pacific.

Building on its US success, Federal Express uses its experience and expertise in the air express industry to commence regular scheduled flights to Europe.

Federal Express begins serving the UK and Ireland for the first time, and Germany through its new hub in Frankfurt. Operations also begin in the Netherlands and Belgium.

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Federal Express starts operations in France and Switzerland.
FedEx opens European Headquarters in Brussels.

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Federal Express begins operations in Italy.

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FedEx advertisement from 1989 with a tiger cub walking out of a FedEx bag

FedEx begins operations in Spain.

Federal Express purchases Flying Tigers to expand its international presence.

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Federal Express starts international shipping services in Poland through alliances with local companies.

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A crowd of FedEx employees celebrating in a hangar with a truck and airplane

Federal Express officially adopts “FedEx” as its brand name, recognised as the worldwide standard for a fast, reliable service.


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A Fedex plane on the runway at dusk

FedEx launches an around-the-world flight, which significantly reduces transit times from Europe to the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent and Asia.

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FedEx launches FedEx EuroOne® Network, opening its European hub at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport in France.

FedEx introduces a single tariff between all European Union countries/territories.

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Launch of an improved FedEx International Priority service through the new FedEx EuroOne® Network, featuring later pick up times and earlier deliveries for European customers.

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Parent company FDX is renamed “FedEx Corporation.” Services are divided into companies that operate independently yet compete collectively: FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Global Logistics, FedEx Custom Critical and FedEx Services.

FedEx announces an expansion of its global network, connecting Europe to Asia by a direct flight from its Europe hub in Paris to its APAC hub in Subic Bay, the Philippines.

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2001 - 2002

FedEx begins operations in Finland, Sweden and Denmark.

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FedEx begins operations in Norway.

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The launch of a direct flight from Cologne to Memphis increases freight capacities from Europe to the US by 20%.

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FedEx courier waling with packages in London

FedEx Corp. acquires ANC, a domestic express company in the United Kingdom. The company, now rebranded as FedEx Express UK, enables FedEx to serve the entire UK domestic market and is run as a wholly owned subsidiary of FedEx Express Europe.

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FedEx Truck on the streets of Hungary

FedEx Express acquires the Hungarian express company Flying Cargo Hungary Kft.

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FedEx electric truck on the streets of London


FedEx Express also launches 10 hybrid Iveco electric commercial vehicles in Milan and Turin, Italy.

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FedEx aircraft at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle hub

FedEx Express finalises a major expansion project at the Roissy-Charles de Gaulle hub, making it the second largest hub after Memphis (US).

FedEx Express introduces FedEx International Economy® service for less time-sensitive shipments from more than 90 countries/territories around the globe.

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FedEx employee at the Cologne/Bonn airport looking at an FedEx Jet


FedEx Express launches an important new connection between Asia and Europe, with a direct roundtrip flight operating five days a week between Hong Kong and Paris – the first provider to offer a next-business-day service from Hong Kong to Europe.

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FedEx employees working on some bleachers

FedEx Cares Week, a coordinated volunteer effort, begins in Europe. Since its US inception in 2005, the initiative has expanded to more than 40 countries/territories.

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FedEx Express strengthens its commitment to the environment by opening a state-of-theart, eco-sustainable distribution centre in Machelen, Belgium.

FedEx Express launches new green delivery initiative in France by introducing seven electronically assisted tricycles for package deliveries and collections in three separate districts in Paris.


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2011 - 2012


From June 2011 to May 2012 FedEx Express launches four new Boeing 757’s, offering next-business-day services to FedEx Express customers in Oslo and significantly improving services for customers in Sweden, Finland, UK and the Netherlands.

FedEx Express becomes the first operator to regularly serve Cologne airport with a Boeing 777F. With lower emissions and less fuel consumption, this aircraft reduces the environmental and noise impact of operations.

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FedEx Express acquires Polish shipping company Opek in Poland and French transportation company TATEX, marking a milestone in FedEx European growth. TATEX was later renamed FedEx Express France in 2013.




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FedEx courier unloading a FedEx truck in Germany

FedEx Express opens additional stations in Bavaria and Austria, and expands its presence in Berlin, Germany, opening a station in Großbeeren, a southern suburb of the German capital city.

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FedEx Express launches SenseAware® in 14 new countries/territories across Europe.

FedEx marks European growth milestone by opening its 100th new station in Seville, southern Spain. Reaching this milestone means that FedEx opened the equivalent of nearly one new station per week over 30 months across Europe, in France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

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FedEx announces it will be main sponsor of the UEFA Europa League, one of the biggest and most prestigious competitions in European football.

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FedEx Express Nordic gateway facility at Copenhagen Airport, Denmark

FedEx Express opens Nordic gateway facility at Copenhagen Airport, Denmark.

FedEx Express unveils a new base of operations at Malpensa, Italy, tripling the size of the current FedEx Express facility in Malpensa to become the third largest hub in Europe, after Paris and Cologne.

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FedEx Truck at station in Chorzów, Poland,

FedEx Express acquires TNT, strengthening the FedEx Express European road platform and extending its European reach.

FedEx opens new station in Chorzów, Poland, boosting operational capacity.

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The April launch of Liege-Memphis flights represents an important milestone in the integration of TNT, giving TNT customers direct access to the FedEx Express North America network.

FedEx Express and TNT jointly opens a new ground operations centre in Barcelona. Thanks to its size, capacity and strategic location in the city’s Zona Franca, it processes both domestic and international shipments, serving as a gateway between the Barcelona region and Europe.

Artist rendering of the ATR 72-600F in the sky

FedEx Express purchases 30 ATR 72-600F aircraft. These new, more advanced feeder aircraft can carry containers and/or palletised freight, helping the company better serve customers in the air freight market where palletised shipments are the norm.

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FedEx plan on the runway

A new FedEx Express flight to Hanoi strengthens access between Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.

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UEL Trophy

FedEx renews sponsorship and commits to sponsor the UEFA Europa League for another three seasons.

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TNT courier scanning a package

FedEx Express launches faster Intra-Europe Economy service, another milestone in its integration with TNT.

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Vitoria Spain Operatinos center

FedEx Express opens a new ground operations center in Vitoria, Spain.

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UEFA EURO 2020 sponsorship

FedEx extends its relationship with UEFA to become Official Logistics Partner of UEFA EURO 2020 and sponsor of the multi-tournament National Team Football.

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