UPS Airlines

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

Fatigue cracks in part of the aircraft’s left engine pylon assembly have emerged as a key factor in the Nov. 4 fatal crash of a UPS McDonnell-Douglas MD-11F.

FAA issued an emergency airworthiness directive to inspect MD-11s. The move comes on the heels of a Boeing recommendation to ground the fleet.

The left engine that came off the UPS MD-11 leading to its fatal crash Nov. 4 had most of its pylon attached when it separated, NTSB investigators determined.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

Following the tragic MD-11F accident at Louisville, Kentucky, Flight Friday looks at flight cycles of the last tri-jet aircraft built for commercial service.

Investigators probing the fatal Nov. 4 crash of a UPS McDonnell-Douglas MD-11 freighter are analyzing data from both of the aircraft’s onboard recorders.

The UPS Boeing MD-11 that crashed while taking off from Louisville International Airport Nov. 4 lost its No. 1 engine before the aircraft cleared the airport perimeter, the NTSB said.

A UPS Boeing MD-11 crashed on takeoff from Louisville International Airport late Nov. 4 with three crew members onboard.

UPS in January launched a new service connecting Paris and Hong Kong to meet export demands from France to the Asia-Pacific region.

Multiple private and public entities across the region have aligned behind the drive to be a leader in advanced air mobility.

Ben Baldanza, former president and CEO of U.S. ultra-low-cost-carrier Spirit Airlines, died Nov. 5 after a long battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Sofia Airport operator SOF Connect is investing BGN500 million ($275 million) in a third terminal, which is expected to be completed within eight years.

Recent personnel developments include changes at major cargo carriers, LCCs from Iceland and Hungary, and major carriers from Panama and the UAE.

For U.S. passenger operators, their $7.8 billion 2023 net profit was $6 billion above 2022’s performance, but still considerably under 2019's $14.8 billion.

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has tapped UPS as its primary domestic air cargo provider, after failing to negotiate new terms with FedEx.

Cargo hourly utilization in February 2024 was up 11% year-over-year.

Global passenger aircraft utilization in February 2024 was up 19% year-over-year.

U.S. startup Merlin has received a Part 135 air operator’s certificate from the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand.

While cargo carrying activity was 4% lower in 2023 than in the previous year, in 2024 global CTKs are forecast to return to 2022 levels.

UPS says the new HKG facility will have the capacity to handle around 1 million tons of cargo annually, although the expected build cost has not been revealed.

An Auto-Cargo vehicle will be deployed to move heavy loads to and from aircraft at the UPS hub at East Midlands Airport.

An autonomous electric cargo transport ground vehicle is to be tested at the UK’s East Midlands Airport.

UPS Airlines has promoted longtime executive Bill Moore to president, effective Oct. 1.

The FAA has authorized UPS Flight Forward to operate drones beyond visual light of sight for small package delivery.