FedEx inks new $260mn deal with Qantas

TNT Australia, a subsidiary of FedEx, has inked a new six-year deal with Qantas Group valued at over AUD350 million Australian dollars (USD263 million). The deal provides the logistics firm access to bellyhold capacity on flights operated by Qantas (QF, Sydney Kingsford Smith) and Jetstar Airways (JQ, Melbourne Tullamarine), as well as maindeck cargo capacity on flights operated by airlines under the umbrella brand of Qantas Freight (Sydney Kingsford Smith). “This agreement will enable FedEx and TNT to continue meeting Australia’s intensifying demand for freight, particularly while passenger aircraft belly space capacity remain constrained due to COVID-19. We are actively counselling and working with small, medium and large businesses in Australasia to support their growing demand – especially in the wake of accelerated e-commerce and online shopping,” Vice-President of FedEx Express Australasia Peter Langley said. According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, Qantas Freight services are operated by the group’s subsidiary Express Freighters Australia, as well as by third-party operators Airwork Flight Operations, Atlas Air, Cobham Aviation Services Australia – Regional, Nauru Airlines (Australia), Pacific Air Express (Australia), and Pionair Australia. FedEx does not have any other airline partners in Australia, although Airwork Flight Operations deploys a single B737-400(F) on its behalf between Melbourne Tullamarine and New Zealand, as well as domestically in New Zealand.