FedEx mulling purchase of 50 planes: report

WASHINGTON: The US parcel firm FedEx is considering the purchase of around 50 cargo planes from either Boeing or Airbus, the Bloomberg news service reported Wednesday, citing three sources close to the matter.

Bloomberg cited one of the unnamed sources as saying that FedEx was looking to upgrade its aging and fuel-thirsty fleet and has expressed interest in both the Boeing 767 and the Airbus A330.

FedEx's board of directors was to meet Thursday to discuss the matter but may not make a final decision for several months, according to the other two sources cited by Bloomberg.

Bloomberg said neither the American Boeing nor the European Airbus would comment on the report, and quoted FedEx spokesman Jim McCluskey as saying: "As a matter of policy, we don't comment on market rumors or speculation."

FedEx operates a fleet of 688 planes, including 71 Airbus A300-600s and 53 A310s, in addition to 67 Boeing 727s and 58 757s. The Chicago-based shipper also uses the DC-10 and MD-11, older planes that consume more fuel.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011