FedEx Pilots Lose Confidence in CEO Rajesh Subramaniam’s Leadership
FedEx Express (FX, Memphis International) pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association International (ALPA), have issued a formal declaration of no confidence in company president and CEO Rajesh Subramaniam, citing a growing disconnect between management and employees. The announcement comes just weeks before FedEx’s 2025 annual stockholders meeting and signals deepening frustration within the airline’s pilot ranks.
In a statement, ALPA said the decision “reflects a fundamental concern: under Subramaniam’s leadership, FedEx has abandoned its long-standing people-first culture and embraced a narrow profit-first mindset that jeopardizes the company’s future.” The union argues that recent restructuring initiatives—including DRIVE, One FedEx, and Network 2.0—have eroded employee morale, damaged trust, and shifted the company’s focus away from the values that once defined its success.
“These programs only focus on how the company functions and forget why FedEx became an overnight sensation,” ALPA stated, calling on executives to restore transparency, accountability, and a renewed commitment to employees. The union urged leadership to “realign the corporate vision to a foundational people-first philosophy” to rebuild internal confidence and operational stability.
In response, FedEx told ch-aviation that it “remains committed to bargaining in good faith and reaching an agreement that is fair to everyone involved.” The company emphasized that it continues to “deliver industry-leading service to customers around the world” as negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement proceed. Talks between the pilots and management began in May 2021 and have yet to produce a finalized deal.
The public loss of confidence highlights ongoing labor tension at FedEx, as the company navigates shifting global demand and increased competition from UPS and Amazon Air. Analysts note that FedEx’s cost-cutting efforts and network restructuring have boosted efficiency but also strained relations with employees who feel sidelined in the process.
According to ch-aviation data, FedEx operates one of the world’s largest cargo fleets, totaling 424 aircraft. This includes thirty-eight Airbus A300-600Fs, twenty A300-600R(F)s, one wet-leased A321-200(P2F), one wet-leased Boeing 737-300(QC), five Boeing 737-800(BCF)s, eighty-five Boeing 757-200(SF)s, 147 Boeing 767-300Fs, fifty-nine Boeing 777-200Fs, ten McDonnell Douglas MD-10-30(F)s, and fifty-eight MD-11Fs. The company also partners with regional carriers such as Morningstar Air Express to support its global operations.
The pilots’ declaration adds mounting pressure on FedEx’s leadership as labor relations, corporate culture, and financial performance converge at a critical juncture for the logistics giant.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com