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{{Short description|Cargo airline based in Louisville, Kentucky, United States}}
{{Infobox Airline
| airline=UPS Airlines
{{Infobox airline
| airline = UPS Airlines
| logo=United Parcel Service logo.svg
| image =
| logo_size=96
| logo = United Parcel Service logo 2014.svg
| fleet_size=229
| logo_size = 100px
| destinations=766 (388 domestic, 378 international)
| frequent_flyer =
| IATA=5X
| fleet_size = 296 owned<br/>210 leased or chartered
| ICAO=UPS
| destinations = 815 (400 domestic, 415 international)
| callsign=UPS
| IATA = 5X
| founded=1988
| ICAO = UPS
| website=http://www.ups.com
| callsign = UPS
parent=United Parcel Service Inc.
| founded = {{start date and age|1988||}}<br />(successor to UPS air cargo that began in {{start date and age|1929||}})
| headquarters=[[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville]], [[Kentucky]]||
| aoc = IPXA097B<ref name="FAA">{{Cite web|url=https://av-info.faa.gov/detail.asp?DSGN_CODE=IPXA&OPER_FAR=121&OPER_NAME=UNITED+PARCEL+SERVICE+CO|title=Federal Aviation Administration - Airline Certificate Information - Detail View|website=av-info.faa.gov|access-date=2019-06-27}}</ref>
hubs=
| website = {{URL|www.ups.com}}
<div>
| parent = [[United Parcel Service Inc]]
'''''"Worldport"'''''
| num_employees = 26,328<ref>{{cite web|title=fact sheets|url=https://about.ups.com/content/dam/upsstories/assets/fact-sheets/airlines-fact-sheets/Air%20Operations%20Facts_06302023.pdf}}</ref>
*[[Louisville International Airport]]
| headquarters = [[Louisville, Kentucky]], US
<div>
| key_people = Jim Joseph ([[President (corporate title)|President]])<ref name="pressroom.ups.com"/>
'''''Asia/Pacific:'''''
| hubs = {{ubl|class=nowrap
*[[Hong Kong International Airport]]<ref name="pressroom.ups.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.pressroom.ups.com/Fact+Sheets/UPS+Air+Operations+Facts |title=UPS Air Operations Facts - UPS Pressroom |publisher=Pressroom.ups.com |date=2008-12-15 |accessdate=2012-05-17}}</ref>
| '''Worldport'''
*[[Shanghai Pudong International Airport]]<ref name="pressroom.ups.com"/>
| {{in5}} [[Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport|Louisville]]
*[[Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ups.com/content/cn/en/about/news/press_releases/02_08_2010_CN.html |title=UPS launches Shenzhen flights |publisher=Ups.com |date=February 8, 2010 |accessdate=November 2, 2010}}</ref>
| '''Asia-Pacific'''
<div>
| {{in5}} [[Clark International Airport|Clark]]<ref name=clark>{{cite web |title=UPS Expands in Asia With Hub at Clark Airport in the Philippines |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ups-expands-asia-hub-clark-133600732.html#:~:text=UPS%20Expands%20in%20Asia%20With%20Hub%20at%20Clark%20Airport%20in%20the%20Philippines |website=finance.yahoo.com |publisher=[[Yahoo! Finance]] |access-date=19 June 2024}}</ref>
'''''United States:'''''
| {{in5}} [[Hong Kong International Airport|Hong Kong]]<ref name="pressroom.ups.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.pressroom.ups.com/Fact+Sheets/UPS+Air+Operations+Facts |title=UPS Air Operations Facts - UPS Pressroom |publisher=Pressroom.ups.com |date=2008-12-15 |access-date=2012-05-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512180724/http://www.pressroom.ups.com/Fact+Sheets/UPS+Air+Operations+Facts |archive-date=2015-05-12 }}</ref>
<div>
| {{in5}} [[Kuala Lumpur International Airport|Kuala Lumpur–International]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ups.com/content/my/en/index.jsx?WT.svl=BrndMrk|publisher=ups.com|title=Welcome to UPS Malaysia}}</ref>
*[[Philadelphia International Airport]]
| {{in5}} [[Shanghai Pudong International Airport|Shanghai–Pudong]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20070412005097/en/UPS-Shanghai-Announce-First-Ever-U.S.-Air-Hub|title=UPS and Shanghai Announce First-Ever U.S. Air Hub in China|date=2007-04-12}}</ref>
*[[LA/Ontario International Airport]]
| {{in5}} [[Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport|Shenzhen]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ups.com/content/cn/en/about/news/press_releases/02_08_2010_CN.html |title=UPS launches Shenzhen flights |publisher=Ups.com |date=February 8, 2010 |access-date=November 2, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724142633/http://www.ups.com/content/cn/en/about/news/press_releases/02_08_2010_CN.html |archive-date=July 24, 2011 }}</ref>
*[[Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport]]
| '''Canada'''
*[[Chicago Rockford International Airport]]
| {{in5}} [[John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport|Hamilton (ON)]]
*[[Columbia Metropolitan Airport]]
| '''Caribbean'''
*[[Miami International Airport]]
| {{in5}} [[Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport|San Juan]]
'''''Europe:'''''
| '''Europe'''
*[[Cologne Bonn Airport]]
| {{in5}} [[Cologne Bonn Airport|Cologne/Bonn]]
'''''Canada:'''''
| {{in5}} [[East Midlands Airport|East Midlands (England)]]
*[[John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport]]
| '''United States'''
</div>
| {{in5}} [[Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport|Anchorage]]
|company_slogan= Worldwide Services: Synchronizing the World of Commerce
| {{in5}} [[Columbia Metropolitan Airport|Columbia (SC)]]
|website= [http://www.pressroom.ups.com/Media+Kits/Airlines Airlines-UPS Pressroom]
| {{in5}} [[Chicago Rockford International Airport|Chicago–Rockford]]
| key_people=Mitch Nichols ([[President]])<ref name="pressroom.ups.com"/>
| {{in5}} [[Dallas Fort Worth International Airport|Dallas/Fort Worth]]
| {{in5}} [[Miami International Airport|Miami]]
| {{in5}} [[Ontario International Airport|Ontario (CA)]]
| {{in5}} [[Philadelphia International Airport|Philadelphia]]
| {{in5}} [[Boeing Field|Seattle–Boeing]]}}
| focus_cities =
}}
}}

'''UPS Airlines''' is an American [[cargo airline]] owned by [[United Parcel Service]] Inc. ({{NYSE|UPS}}). The company is headquartered in [[Louisville, Kentucky]].<ref>"[http://www.pressroom.ups.com/Press+Releases/Archive/2008/Q2/Special+Delivery%3A+UPS+Moving+Ancient+Terra+Cotta+Army Special Delivery: UPS Moving Ancient Terra Cotta Army]." [[United Parcel Service]]. May 5, 2008. Retrieved on June 19, 2010. "UPS air operations are headquartered in Louisville, Ky.,"</ref> Its headquarters, [[Worldport (UPS air hub)|Worldport]], is based at [[Louisville International Airport]]. The pilots are represented by the [[Independent Pilots Association]].
'''UPS Airlines''' is a major American [[cargo airline]] based in [[Louisville, Kentucky]], US.<ref>"[http://www.pressroom.ups.com/Press+Releases/Archive/2008/Q2/Special+Delivery%3A+UPS+Moving+Ancient+Terra+Cotta+Army Special Delivery: UPS Moving Ancient Terra Cotta Army]." [[United Parcel Service]]. May 5, 2008. Retrieved on June 19, 2010. "UPS air operations are headquartered in Louisville, Ky.,"</ref> One of the largest cargo airlines worldwide [[World's largest airlines#Scheduled freight tonne-kilometers (millions)|in terms of freight volume flown]], UPS Airlines flies to 815 destinations worldwide.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.pressroom.ups.com/pressroom/ContentDetailsViewer.page?ConceptType=FactSheets&id=1426321563187-193|title=UPS Fact Sheet|work=UPS Pressroom|access-date=2018-09-11|language=en-US}}</ref> It has been a wholly owned subsidiary of [[United Parcel Service]] since its launch in 1988.

In line with passenger airlines, UPS Airlines operates under the [[Spoke–hub distribution paradigm#Commercial aviation|hub-and-spoke model]]. The airline's primary hub in the United States is at [[Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport]], where it built a 5,200,000 square foot facility known as ''UPS Worldport''.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-04-25|title=Inside Louisville's UPS Worldport|url=https://aerosavvy.com/ups-worldport/|access-date=2021-03-14|website=AeroSavvy|language=en-US}}</ref> In addition to Worldport, UPS has several secondary hubs across the United States and international hubs in Canada, China, England, Germany, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico.

The pilots of UPS Airlines are represented by the [[Independent Pilots Association]].


==History==
==History==
[[File:Boeing 727-1A7C(QF), United Parcel Service - UPS AN1174649.jpg|A Boeing 727-100F taxiing in Louisville, Kentucky|thumb]]
===Early years===
[[File:McDonnell Douglas DC-8-73AF, United Parcel Service - UPS AN1001398.jpg|A Douglas DC-8-73F landing at Louisville, Kentucky|thumb]]
The origin of transporting packages by air for UPS (then United Parcel Service) dates to 1929; much like the U.S Postal Service, UPS packages were transported as baggage on commercial airline flights.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pressroom.ups.com/About+UPS/Company+History/1918 |title=1918 - UPS Pressroom |publisher=Pressroom.ups.com |date=2008-12-15 |accessdate=2012-05-17}}</ref> Many packages were shipped by the [[Ford Trimotor]]s of [[United Airlines]]. After [[Black Friday (1929)|Black Friday]] and the beginning of the Great Depression, the air service would be discontinued by the end of 1931. However, the air service would lead to the expansion beyond the West Coast; in 1930, the company moved operations from Oakland to New York City and established operations in other regions across the country as well.
[[File:N677UP B747-123(F) UPS NRT 09JUL01 (7042299625).jpg|A Boeing 747-100F in Tokyo Narita|thumb]]
[[File:McDonnell Douglas MD-11(F), United Parcel Service - UPS AN0939617.jpg|thumb|A [[McDonnell Douglas MD-11]] in Dubai]]
[[File:N521UP B747-212B UPS(logojet) NRT 09JUL01 (6896202880).jpg|thumb|A UPS Boeing 747-200 in the [[Atlanta]] [[1996 Summer Olympics]] sponsorship livery taxiing in Tokyo Narita]]
[[File:Airbus A300F4-622R, United Parcel Service - UPS AN0481843.jpg|An Airbus A300-600F in the original livery in Denver|thumb]]


===1929-1931: First UPS air service===
After World War II, UPS (in the process of acquiring [[common carrier]] rights for every address in the United States) revisited the idea of shipping packages by air. Starting in 1953, 2-day delivery was offered on coast-to-coast packages; the service was called Blue Label Air. As before, volume was transported via commercial flights. Initially unprofitable, Blue Label Air became popular as its speed created enough demand to maintain a profit.
The origin of transporting packages by air for UPS (then United Parcel Service) dates to 1929. Similar to the US Postal Service, UPS packages were transported as baggage on commercial airline flights.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pressroom.ups.com/About+UPS/Company+History/1918 |title=1918 - UPS Pressroom |publisher=Pressroom.ups.com |date=2008-12-15 |access-date=2012-05-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519092716/http://www.pressroom.ups.com/About+UPS/Company+History/1918 |archive-date=2012-05-19 }}</ref> Many packages were shipped by the [[Ford Trimotor]]s of [[United Airlines]]. After [[Black Tuesday]] and the beginning of the Great Depression, the air service would be discontinued by the end of 1931. However, the air service would lead to the expansion beyond the West Coast; in 1930, the company moved operations from Oakland to New York City and established operations in other regions across the country as well.


=== 1950s-1970s: Packages as luggage ===
===1975-1988===
After World War II, UPS (in the process of acquiring [[common carrier]] rights for every address in the United States) revisited the idea of shipping packages by air. Starting in 1953, 2-day delivery was offered on coast-to-coast packages; the service was called Blue Label Air. As before, UPS package volume was transported on commercial airline flights. Initially unprofitable, Blue Label Air became popular as its speed created enough demand to maintain a profit.
In 1975, UPS started its first international operations as it moved into Canada; the next year, it started service in Germany.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pressroom.ups.com/About+UPS/Company+History/1975 |title=1975 - UPS Pressroom |publisher=Pressroom.ups.com |date=2008-12-15 |accessdate=2012-05-17}}</ref> As UPS had become a truly international company, the need for its own fleet of aircraft was becoming imminent rather than relying on commercial flights. Additionally, competitor [[FedEx Express|Federal Express]], with its own jet fleet, was making inroads on UPS and had become profitable for the first time in 1976. In 1978, the [[Airline Deregulation Act]] gave UPS a significant opportunity: the company could now establish its own airline and flying from city to city would require far fewer legislative hurdles, as the federal government now encouraged competition between airlines. In 1980, UPS opened its first major hub, located in Louisville, Kentucky; the location was chosen largely because it is three hours flying distance (by jet) from the majority of the continental United States. Also in the early 1980s, the company began acquiring a fleet of jet aircraft recently retired from commercial aircraft duty; it was composed of Douglas DC-8s, Boeing 727-100s, and Boeing 747-100s.


In 1975, UPS started its first international operations as it expanded into Canada, with an additional expansion into West Germany a year later.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pressroom.ups.com/About+UPS/Company+History/1975|title=1975 - UPS Pressroom|date=2008-12-15|publisher=Pressroom.ups.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120518052324/http://www.pressroom.ups.com/About+UPS/Company+History/1975|archive-date=2012-05-18|url-status=dead|access-date=2012-05-17}}</ref>
===1988-2000===
In 1988, UPS Airlines was founded; at the time of its founding, UPS had a route network serving 41 countries connecting the United States to Asia and Europe. During the 1990s, the airline expanded its jet fleet with all-new aircraft. The first of its 75 Boeing 757-200s was delivered starting in 1987, while 32 767-300s were delivered beginning in 1995. In the 1990s, the airline began to expand its network beyond the Louisville hub with facilities in [[Rockford, Illinois]], [[Philadelphia]], [[Dallas, Texas|Dallas]], [[Columbia, South Carolina]], and [[Ontario, California]].


As UPS had become an international company, access to its own cargo aircraft had become a more apparent issue. In 1976, competitor [[FedEx Express|Federal Express]] (which owned its own fleet of jet aircraft) had turned a profit, showcasing that package delivery companies did not have to exclusively rely on commercial aircraft to transport their volume.
As the jet fleet flies primarily on weekdays, UPS was eager to find ways to for its aircraft to produce income other ways. In the 1990s, eight 727s were converted (at a cost of $2.5 million each) into 727-100QC (QC=Quick Change) freighters that were able to be converted into passenger aircraft for the purpose of charters.


In 1978, the [[Airline Deregulation Act]] gave UPS a significant opportunity: the company could now establish its own airline and flying from city to city would require far fewer legislative hurdles as the federal government now encouraged competition between airlines.
===2000-present===
In 2000, the UPS airline fleet saw another major addition, as the first of 90 Airbus A300 freighters entered service; these marked the first non-Boeing/Douglas aircraft in the fleet. In 2001, the airline ended its passenger service, focusing exclusively on freight service. In April 2001, the airline made its first flights to China, six days a week.<ref>[http://pressroom.ups.com/Fact+Sheets/UPS+Timeline UPS Timeline]</ref> In 2003, the aircraft saw a change in livery as United Parcel Service officially became UPS and the tail logo (a design seen since 1961) was redesigned.


=== 1980s: Establishment of UPS Airlines ===
During the 2000s, the makeup of the UPS Airlines fleet changed considerably. In the mid-2000s, the oldest and lowest-capacity aircraft, the Boeing 727s, were retired. From 2008 to 2009, the airline phased out its 747-100, 747-200, and DC-8 fleet; at the time, nearly half of the world's active DC-8 fleet was operated by the company.
In 1980, UPS opened its first major hub for sorting packages transported by aircraft, located in Louisville, Kentucky. Located at the westernmost point of the [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern time zone]], Louisville is accessible (by jet aircraft) across the majority of the contiguous United States in less than three hours. In contrast to chief competitor Federal Express (which owned its own aircraft), in the early 1980s, air operations of UPS were undertaken by several contractors, including [[Evergreen International Airlines]], Interstate Airlines, [[Ryan International Airlines|Ryan Air]], and Orion Air.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=http://www.stanwing.com/United%20Parcel_01-Service%20Captain%20Hat%20Badge%201st%20Issue|title=Stan's WIngs {{!}} U {{!}} United Parcel Service Captain's Hat Badge (1st issue)}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web|url=http://www.dudesdownunder.com/orionair.html|title=Flying Dudes - Orion Air|website=www.dudesdownunder.com|access-date=2018-08-18}}</ref> Through its contractors, UPS flew its packages using a fleet of commercial aircraft converted to freighters, including Boeing 727-100s, 727-200s, Douglas DC-8s, and Boeing 747-100s.<ref name=":8" />


In 1982, UPS introduced its Next-Day Air service, guaranteeing overnight delivery on certain packages.<ref name=":3">{{cite web|url=http://pressroom.ups.com/Fact+Sheets/UPS+Timeline|title=UPS Timeline|date=2008-12-15|publisher=Pressroom.ups.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090705142815/http://pressroom.ups.com/Fact+Sheets/UPS+Timeline|archive-date=5 July 2009|access-date=2013-09-20}}</ref>
In April 2010, UPS completed its expansion of Worldport in Louisville, after five years of construction.


To expand its flight network, UPS opened a distribution facility in [[Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport|Anchorage]] in 1985. Similar to Louisville, Anchorage was chosen for its strategic geographical position, accessible to 90% of the industrialized world in less than 9{{frac|1|2}} hours flying distance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.inboundlogistics.com/cms/article/cargo-crossroads-of-the-world-alaska/|title=Cargo Crossroads of the World: Alaska - Inbound Logistics|website=www.inboundlogistics.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/todayinthesky/2016/12/09/anchorage-airport-swarms-presents-jumbo-jets-holidays-near/95139702/|title=98.5 tons of holiday-rush packages stop in Alaska|website=[[USA Today]]}}</ref>
On February 8, 2010 UPS announced the plans to [[furlough]] at least 300 pilots in 2010 and 2011, cancelling the agreement reached in 2009 between UPS and the [[Independent Pilots Association]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pressroom.ups.com/Press+Releases/Archive/2010/Q1/UPS+Starts+Pilot+Furlough+Process |title=UPS Starts Pilot Furlough Process |publisher=UPS Website |date=February 8, 2010}}</ref> UPS has furloughed 108 pilots as of April 2011. The last pilot was furloughed in August 2010 and additional furloughs have been cancelled, according to UPS.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airlinepilotcentral.com/airlines/cargo/ups.html |title=UPS Airlines Information |publisher=Airline Pilot Central |date=April 11, 2011}}</ref>


In 1986, in an effort to obtain service rights to Japan, UPS entered into a joint venture with [[DHL Express|DHL]], named International Parcel Express (IPX).<ref name=":7" /> IPX was rejected for use in Japan, leading UPS to purchase the DHL share of the joint venture in 1987.<ref name=":7" /> At the end of 1987, UPS ended the use of contract flights by Evergreen, Ryan, and Orion. Using the flight certificate intended for the IPX joint venture, the renamed UPS Airlines commenced operations in January 1988, adopting many flight crews from Orion Air.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":8" />
==Destinations==
{{see also|Worldport (UPS air hub)}}
UPS flies to more than 200 countries and territories around the world, serving 388 U.S. airports with 936 flight segments, and 378 international airports with 755 flight segments daily.<ref name="pressroom.ups.com"/> Most UPS Airlines flights go through the UPS [[Worldport (UPS air hub)|Worldport]] at [[Louisville International Airport]]. In addition to Worldport, UPS Airlines operates regionally-focused hubs in [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]], [[Ontario, California]], [[Dallas, Texas]], [[Rockford, Illinois]], and [[Columbia, South Carolina]]. Philadelphia is the main transatlantic hub for flights to Europe. Other hubs in North America include [[Hamilton, Ontario]] and [[Miami, Florida]]. Internationally, UPS operates hubs in [[Cologne, Germany]], [[Hong Kong]], [[Shanghai]], and [[Shenzhen, China]].


===1990s: Network expansion===
{| class="wikitable sortable"<ref name="pressroom.ups.com"/>
At the 1988 founding of UPS Airlines, the company operated a route network serving 41 countries connecting the United States and Canada to Asia and Europe. To expand and modernize its jet fleet, at the end of 1987, UPS purchased dedicated freighter variants of the [[Boeing 757#757-200PF|Boeing 757]]. In 1995, UPS purchased a second aircraft type from Boeing, the [[Boeing 767#767-300F|Boeing 767]] freighter. The launch customer of both aircraft, UPS Airlines would purchase 75 757s and 32 767s, more than doubling the size of its aircraft fleet.
|-

!colspan=6|Major Hubs of UPS Airlines
To update the oldest aircraft in its fleet, the 727-100QF conversion was introduced (QF=Quiet Freighter). In place of a [[hush kit]], the QF conversion changed the aircraft from Pratt & Whitney JT8D to Rolls-Royce Tay turbofans.<ref name=":8" />
|-

!Location
In 1991, to gain the ability to fly domestic cargo flights within Europe, UPS entered into a partnership with Danish airline [[Star Air (Denmark)|Star Air]] (part of the [[Maersk]] conglomerate), leasing several 727 freighters to the airline (later replaced by 757 freighters).
!Airport

!Service Area
In the early 1990s, to add capacity to its network, UPS Airlines opened additional hubs, with primary hubs in [[Rockford, Illinois]] (Chicago) and [[Philadelphia]]; secondary hubs were opened in [[Dallas/Fort Worth]]; [[Columbia, South Carolina]]; and [[Ontario, California]] (Los Angeles).
!Ramp Size

!Parking Positions
With most of its aircraft flying primarily on weeknights, the airline was eager to find other ways to produce income from its fleet. In the 1990s, eight 727 freighters were converted (at a cost of $2.5 million each) into 727-100QC (QC=Quick Change) freighters with the ability to be re-converted into passenger aircraft for the purpose of chartered flights. After disappointing results, in 2001, UPS ended charter service with quick-change freighters, with the aircraft returned to cargo service.
!Daily Flights (average)

|-
===2000s: Worldport and network diversification===
|Louisville, Kentucky<br>(Worldport)
Following the addition of primary and secondary hubs to the airline network during the 1990s, for much of the next decade, additional demand led to massive expansion of its central Louisville air hub. From 1999 to 2002, in a $1 billion expansion, the Louisville hub was doubled in size (to 4 million square feet), with the hub adapting the name of the expansion project, [[Worldport (UPS air hub)|Worldport]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pressroom.ups.com/pressreleases/archives/archive/0,1363,4170,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021106051029/http://pressroom.ups.com/pressreleases/archives/archive/0,1363,4170,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2002-11-06|title=UPS Pressroom|date=2002-11-06|access-date=2018-08-19}}</ref> As part of the 2004 purchase of [[Menlo Worldwide Logistics|Menlo Worldwide Forwarding]], a second expansion was completed in 2006 to expand heavy-freight operations in the UPS systems; similar expansions were added to the largest UPS hubs in the United States. From 2006 to 2010, a third expansion added over 1 million square feet to the Worldport facility (to 5.2 million square feet) and added additional ramp space for aircraft.
|[[Louisville International Airport#Operations|Louisville International Airport (Standiford Field)]]

|Worldwide (over 200 countries)
During the 2000s, further efforts were made by UPS to expand its flight network. In 2000, the company acquired [[Centurion Air Cargo|Challenge Air Cargo]] to expand its services in Latin America.<ref name=":3" /> In a new concept, UPS introduced several "around the world" flights; originating from Louisville, the long-distance flights have several intermediate stops in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, before returning to Worldport.<ref name=":3" /> In April 2001, UPS Airlines launched its first direct flights to China, providing service six days a week.<ref name=":3" /> In 2004, parent company UPS acquired Menlo Worldwide Forwarding (the successor to [[Emery Worldwide]]) to expand its heavy-freight operations.<ref name=":3" />
|{{convert|300|acres}}

|135
==== Fleet modernization ====
|251
During the 2000s, the makeup of the UPS Airlines fleet underwent considerable change. As part of a $5 billion purchase of 60 aircraft, UPS phased in its first [[Airbus A300#A300-600|Airbus A300F]] freighters in 2000 (its first Airbus aircraft).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pressroom.ups.com:80/pressreleases/archives/archive/0,1363,3677,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021106044358/http://pressroom.ups.com/pressreleases/archives/archive/0,1363,3677,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2002-11-06|title=UPS Pressroom|date=2002-11-06|access-date=2018-08-19}}</ref> The same year, the airline announced a $2 billion purchase of 13 [[McDonnell Douglas MD-11#Variants|McDonnell Douglas MD-11F]] freighters (with an additional option for 22); in contrast to the A300 freighters, the MD-11s were conversions of recently retired passenger aircraft.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pressroom.ups.com:80/pressreleases/archives/archive/0,1363,3825,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021220071307/http://www.pressroom.ups.com/pressreleases/archives/archive/0,1363,3825,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2002-12-20|title=UPS Pressroom|date=2002-12-20|access-date=2018-08-19}}</ref>
|-

|Philadelphia, Pennsylvania<br>(East Coast Region Air Hub)
As part of the company rebranding from United Parcel Service to UPS in early 2003, the airline redesigned its aircraft livery, featuring the redesigned company "shield" logo on the vertical stabilizer.
|[[Philadelphia International Airport]]

|Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont; portions of California, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia
In January 2005, UPS Airlines became the second airline (behind FedEx Express) to order the [[Airbus A380#A380F|Airbus A380-800F]], placing an order for 10 aircraft (with an option for 10 more).<ref name=":9">{{cite web|url=http://www.pressroom.ups.com/pressreleases/archives/archive/0,1363,4503,00.html|title=UPS Places Order for 10 Airbus A380 Freighters|date=2006-12-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061209225627/http://www.pressroom.ups.com/pressreleases/archives/archive/0,1363,4503,00.html|archive-date=2006-12-09|access-date=2012-05-17}}</ref> Configured to load three decks of freight (one more than a Boeing 747 and other widebody aircraft), the A380 freighter would have entered service from 2009 to 2012.<ref name=":9" /> Under the terms of the A380 purchase, UPS reduced its order for A300 aircraft from 90 aircraft to 53.<ref name=":9" /> To modernize its existing wide-body fleet, 11 additional MD-11Fs and 8 Boeing 747-400Fs were ordered.<ref name=":3" />
|{{convert|49.7|acres}}

|21
In February 2007, UPS Airlines nearly doubled the size of its 767 fleet, as an order was placed for 27 additional freighters, entering service between 2009 and 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pressroom.ups.com/pressreleases/archives/archive/0,1363,4858,00.html|title=Press Release|date=February 5, 2007|publisher=UPS|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070209012140/http://www.pressroom.ups.com/pressreleases/archives/archive/0,1363,4858,00.html|archive-date=2007-02-09|access-date=January 8, 2012}}</ref> Following years of delays by Airbus, in March 2007, UPS ended its purchase of the Airbus A380F. Alongside the cancellation by FedEx Express,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/business/worldbusiness/08airbus.html|title=FedEx Rescinds Order for Airbus A380s|last=Wayne|first=and Leslie|work=The New York Times |date=8 November 2006 |access-date=2018-08-19|language=en}}</ref> the final A380 purchase by an American-owned airline ended.
|44

|-
By 2007, additional MD-11s and 747-400s had entered service, leading the airline to gradually phase out its oldest aircraft from the fleet. Initially, the Boeing 727 freighters (the oldest and lowest-capacity aircraft) were retired, replaced on routes by Boeing 757 freighters. During 2008 and 2009, the 747-100 and 747-200 aircraft were retired, replaced by the 747-400s and MD-11Fs. In 2009, UPS Airlines retired its entire fleet of DC-8 aircraft; at the time, its 44 aircraft represented nearly half of the active DC-8 fleet flying worldwide.
|Ontario, California<br>(West Coast Region Air Hub)

|[[Ontario International Airport#Cargo operations|LA/Ontario International Airport]]
===2010s: Flying further===
|Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, New Mexico, Montana, Utah, Washington and Wyoming; portions of Kansas and Nebraska
On February 8, 2010, UPS announced the plans to [[furlough]] at least 300 pilots in 2010 and 2011, cancelling a 2009 agreement between the company and the [[Independent Pilots Association]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pressroom.ups.com/Press+Releases/Archive/2010/Q1/UPS+Starts+Pilot+Furlough+Process |title=UPS Starts Pilot Furlough Process |publisher=UPS Website |date=February 8, 2010}}</ref> The remaining pilots not furloughed demonstrated unprecedented unity by not flying overtime while colleagues were laid off. UPS decided to reduce the furlough to 109 pilots. The final pilot furloughed was in August 2010. UPS decided to recall pilots back to work in December 2011. The furlough officially ended in May, 2014 when the first pilot furloughed returned to work.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airlinepilotcentral.com/airlines/cargo/ups.html |title=UPS Airlines Information |publisher=Airline Pilot Central |date=April 11, 2011}}</ref> On September 1, 2016, UPS and the IPA agreed to a new 5-year contract. Key components of the agreement were: immediate increases of 14.65% and a signing bonus in place of retroactive pay; 3% annual wage increases through the span of the contract; enhanced pension benefits; crew rest enhancements, including reduced duty period limits for overnight and international flights; additional sleep facilities at major gateways; and [[Crew rest compartment|sleep modules]] in UPS Boeing 767 aircraft.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pressroom.ups.com/pressroom/ContentDetailsViewer.page?ConceptType=PressReleases&id=1472655018351-328|title=UPS Pilots Ratify New Contract}}</ref>
|{{convert|156|acres}}

|21
In 2014, the UPS 767 fleet was modified, as all existing aircraft and all aircraft on order were fitted with winglets.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web|url=http://news.cision.com/ups/r/ups-767-fleet-to-get-new-look---ups-debuts-new-winglets-to-767-aircraft-to-save-fuel-and-reduce-emis,c9415931|title=UPS 767 Fleet to Get New Look - UPS Debuts New Winglets to 767 Aircraft to Save Fuel and Reduce Emissions|website=News Powered by Cision|access-date=2018-08-19}}</ref> While over 10 feet tall, the large winglets were optimized to reduce drag, consequently reducing fuel consumption and emissions.<ref name=":10" /> In 2017, 3 767-300ERs were purchased from [[Japan Airlines]], becoming the first converted 767s for UPS.
|38

|-
In October 2016, UPS Airlines announced a $5.2 billion agreement to purchase 14 Boeing 747-8F freighter aircraft (with an option for 14 more).<ref name=":2">{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-boeing-ups-idUSKCN12R1UX|title=UPS CEO says $5.3 bln order for Boeing 747 freighters reflects demand|last=Scott|first=Alwyn|newspaper=Reuters|date=2016-10-27}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://boeing.mediaroom.com/news-releases-statements?item=129795|title=News Releases/Statements|website=MediaRoom|access-date=2016-10-27}}</ref> While originally planning to end production of the 747 by 2020, along with the UPS purchase, Boeing cites replacement of older aircraft, e-commerce, and demand for larger aircraft across international routes as justification for retaining the 747.<ref name=":2" /> In February 2018, UPS exercised its option to purchase the additional 14 747 freighters, making UPS the largest operator of the 747-8 worldwide. As part of the option, UPS also purchased 4 additional Boeing 767-300F freighters, delivered by 2022.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=http://www.boeing.com/commercial/customers/ups/747-8-767-order.page|title=UPS Orders 14 Additional 747-8 Freighters, Plus Four 767 Freighters|website=Boeing Commercial|access-date=2018-02-02}}</ref>
|Dallas, Texas<br>(Southwest Region Air Hub)

|[[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport#Cargo|Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]]
The introduction of the 747-8F fleet allows UPS to introduce its longest-ever flight, flying nonstop from Louisville (Worldport) to its gateway in [[Dubai International Airport]] (nearly 6,700 miles).<ref name=":6">{{Cite news|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/ups-expands-nonstop-to-dubai-using-747-8f-445554/|title=UPS expands nonstop to Dubai using 747-8F|date=2018-02-05|work=Flightglobal.com|access-date=2018-07-08|language=en-GB}}</ref> The flight segment is part of an "around the world flight", stopping at its hub in Shenzhen, China and making another stop at [[Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport]] in Alaska before returning to Louisville.<ref name=":6" />
|Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas and Washington; portions of New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Virginia

|{{convert|18|acres}}
=== 2020s ===
|17
In December 2021, UPS placed an order for 19 Boeing 767 freighters, exercising an option for 8 more less than 9 months later.<ref name=":11" /><ref name=":12" /> Expanding the UPS 767 fleet to 108 (second only to FedEx), the new aircraft are to enter service by 2025.<ref name=":12" /> In March 2023, the airline began the acquisition of two Boeing 747-8Fs previously operated by [[AirBridgeCargo|AirBridge Cargo]]; the aircraft are intended to begin service during 2024.<ref name=":13" />
|23

|-
At the beginning of 2023, UPS announced its plans to phase out its fleet of MD-11F aircraft; initially, six aircraft will be retired during 2023, with the other 34 replaced as it expands its 767 fleet.<ref>{{Cite web |title=FedEx, UPS Call Time On MD-11 Fleets {{!}} Aviation Week Network |url=https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airlines-lessors/fedex-ups-call-time-md-11-fleets |access-date=2023-08-03 |website=aviationweek.com}}</ref> Though lower in overall payload and range, the 767 houses nearly the same capacity of upper-deck containers and is more fuel-efficient.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kulisch |first=Eric |date=2023-02-02 |title=UPS begins phaseout of older MD-11 cargo jets |url=https://www.freightwaves.com/news/ups-begins-phaseout-of-older-md-11-cargo-jets |access-date=2023-08-03 |website=FreightWaves |language=en-US}}</ref>
|Rockford, Illinois<br>(Rockford Regional Air Hub)

|[[Chicago Rockford International Airport]]
==Hubs==
|Colorado, Connecticut, Rhode Island; portions of Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Texas, Washington and Washington, D.C.
{{see also|Louisville International Airport}}
|{{convert|50|acres}}
[[File:Ups worldport.jpg|thumb|300px|UPS Worldport]]
|40
Each day, UPS Airlines flies to over 220 countries and territories worldwide, serving 388 airports in the United States with 936 flight segments and 378 international airports with 755 flight segments<ref name="pressroom.ups.com"/> Using the traditional hub-and-spoke model, UPS Airlines operates through its central facility, Worldport, in Louisville, Kentucky. In addition, the company operates several facilities on a regional level across the United States.
|30
* [[Chicago Rockford International Airport]] in [[Rockford, Illinois]], the second-largest hub of UPS Airlines in terms of average daily package volume. 85 miles northwest of Chicago, the Rockford Regional Air Hub directly serves Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Maryland, Washington DC, Michigan, Minnesota, Texas, California, Arizona and Washington State.<ref name=":0" /> Approximately each hour, the facility handles 121,000 individual packages.<ref name=":0" /> Along with the {{convert|586000|sqft|adj=on}} package-sorting facility, UPS also operates a {{convert|65000|sqft|adj=on}} freight facility; the {{convert|50|acre|adj=on}} UPS ramp has parking for 40 aircraft, the most outside of Worldport.<ref name=":0" />
|-
*[[Columbia Metropolitan Airport]] in [[Lexington County, South Carolina]] is the southeastern regional cargo hub for UPS and opened in August 1996. The hub offers next-day, second-day and third-day air service. The buildings encompass 352,000 square feet (32,700 m<sup>2</sup>) and the 44-acre (180,000 m<sup>2</sup>) ramp was large enough to hold 22 DC-8 aircraft <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.airports-worldwide.com/usa/south_carolina/columbia_metropolitan_south_carolina.php|title = Columbia Metropolitan Airport}}</ref> (ideally up to 14 aircraft parking positions currently with newer aircraft).The hub can process 42,000 packages an hour. Flights average 10 per day, serving Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Richland County Economic Development Office > Community Data > Transportation > Airports|url=http://richlandcountysc.com/Community-Data/Transportation/Airports|access-date=2021-08-07|website=richlandcountysc.com}}</ref>
|Columbia, South Carolina<br>(Southeast Region Air Hub)
* [[Dallas Fort Worth International Airport]] The Southwest Region Air Hub directly serves Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, Oregon, Hawaii, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia and Washington, DC. Approximately each hour, the facility handles 46,000 individual packages.<ref name=":0" /> Along with the {{convert|323,000|sqft|adj=on}} package-sorting facility, UPS also operates a {{convert|49,000|sqft|adj=on}} freight facility.<ref name=":0" />
|[[Columbia Metropolitan Airport#UPS Southeastern Regional Hub|Columbia Metropolitan Airport]]
* [[Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport]] in [[Louisville, Kentucky]], the primary hub of UPS Airlines and home to Worldport, the central facility for sorting domestic packages. With approximately 251 inbound and outbound flights daily, the service area for Worldport is over 200 countries worldwide.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title = UPS Air Operations Facts|url = https://www.pressroom.ups.com/pressroom/ContentDetailsViewer.page?ConceptType=FactSheets&id=1426321563773-779|website = UPS Pressroom|access-date = 2015-10-31}}</ref> Approximately each hour, the facility handles 416,000 individual packages.<ref name=":0" /> Along with the {{convert|5200000|sqft|adj=on}} Worldport facility, UPS also operates a {{convert|654000|sqft|adj=on}} freight facility at the airport. In addition, UPS Airlines is headquartered at the airport, but the [[United Parcel Service|parent company]] is headquartered in [[Atlanta]].
|Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee
* [[Miami International Airport]] in [[Miami-Dade County, Florida]]. With a service area containing primarily Central and South America, the Latin America/Caribbean Hub also handles domestic packages for the southern United States. The 36,000 square foot facility handles approximately 6,500 individual packages every hour.<ref name=":0" />
|{{convert|35|acres}}
* [[Ontario International Airport]] in [[Ontario, California]]. 35 miles east of Los Angeles, the West Coast Region Air Hub directly serves California, Oregon, Washington State, Idaho, Nevada, Montana, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas and Nebraska along with Alaska and Hawaii. Approximately each hour, the facility handles 67,000 individual packages.<ref name=":0" /> Along with the {{convert|779,000|sqft|adj=on}} package-sorting facility, UPS also operates a {{convert|49,000|sqft|adj=on}} freight facility.<ref name=":0" />
|14
* [[Philadelphia International Airport]] in [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]], the second-busiest UPS facility in North America, in terms of daily flights.<ref name=":0" /> The East Coast Region Air Hub directly serves Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Washington DC, Virginia, West Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, and California.<ref name=":0" /> Approximately each hour, the facility handles 95,000 individual packages.<ref name=":0" /> Along with the {{convert|681,000|sqft|adj=on}} package-sorting facility, UPS also operates a {{convert|66,000|sqft|adj=on}} freight facility.<ref name=":0" />
|10

|-
===International hubs===
|Miami, Florida
UPS Airlines operates several international hubs worldwide outside of Worldport. Two are in North America with two in Europe; three are located in China (Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong), one at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia, and one at Clark International Airport in the Philippines.<ref name=clark/>
|[[Miami International Airport#Cargo|Miami International Airport]]

|Southern United States<br>Central and South America
====Canada====
|{{convert|14.84|acres}}
* [[John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport]] in [[Mount Hope, Hamilton, Ontario]]. The Canada Air Hub provides service for the entire country of Canada. The 31,000 square foot facility handles approximately 6,000 individual packages every hour.<ref name=":0" />
|9

|24
====Caribbean====
|-
* [[Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport]] in [[San Juan, Puerto Rico]].
|Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

|[[John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport]]
====Europe====
|Canada (nationwide)
* [[Cologne Bonn Airport]] in [[Cologne, Germany]]. Similar to Worldport, the Cologne Hub has a service area of over 200 countries; to do so, many flights chartered by the company originate from here. Second only to Worldport, the Cologne Hub handles 190,000 packages an hour in the {{convert|323,000|sqfoot|m2|abbr=none}} facility; with 76 average flights per day, it is the second-busiest UPS hub worldwide, in terms of daily flights.<ref name=":0" />
|{{convert|4.9|acres}}
* [[East Midlands Airport]] in [[East Midlands]], [[Derby|Derby, United Kingdom]].
| -

|24
====China====
|-
* [[Hong Kong International Airport]] in [[Chek Lap Kok]], Hong Kong. With a service area containing transferring packages to Asia from Europe (and vice versa), the {{convert|45,000|ft2}} facility sorts approximately 4,500 packages an hour.<ref name=":0" />
|Cologne/Bonn, Germany
* [[Shanghai Pudong International Airport]] in [[Pudong|Pudong, Shanghai, China.]] Similar to the Shenzhen facility, the Shanghai facility organizes all UPS packages traveling into and out of China from destinations worldwide; approximately 17,000 packages an hour are sorted.<ref name=":0" />
|[[Cologne Bonn Airport]]
* [[Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport]] in [[Shenzhen, China]]. At {{convert|960,000|ft2}}, it is one of the largest facilities, meant to sort all packages traveling into and out of Asia, as well as handle packages traveling within Asia; approximately 18,000 packages an hour are sorted.<ref name=":0" />
|Over 200 countries worldwide

|{{convert|18.7|acres}}
====Southeast Asia====
|64
* [[Kuala Lumpur International Airport]] in [[Kuala Lumpur]], [[Malaysia]].
|76
* [[Clark International Airport]] in [[Pampanga]], [[Philippines]].
|-
|Shenzhen, China
|[[Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport]]
|Asia to Asia, Asia to world, world to Asia
| -
| -
|13
|-
|Hong Kong
|[[Hong Kong International Airport|Hong Kong International Airport (Chek Lap Kok Airport)]]
|Asia to Europe, Europe to Asia
| -
| -
|11
|-
|Shanghai, China
|[[Shanghai Pudong International Airport]]
|China to world, world to China
| -
| -
|12
|}


==Fleet==
==Fleet==
[[File:UPS 767 taxiing at ANC (6311108734).jpg|A [[Boeing 767-300F]] in the former livery|thumb]]
{{stack
|[[File:UPS Boeing 747-200 KvW.jpg|thumb|A [[Boeing 747-200]] in original UPS Airlines livery at [[Denver International Airport]] in 2003]]
[[File:N605UP (46714623841).jpg|A [[Boeing 747-8F]] in the current livery|thumb]]
|[[File:UPS MD11 N252UP.jpg|thumb|A [[McDonnell Douglas MD-11]]F arrives at [[Warsaw Chopin Airport]]]]
[[File:UPS Boeing 747-400 in Dubai KvW.jpg|thumb|A [[Boeing 747-400F]] in the former livery.]]
[[File:N332UP18072014LHR (14690150615).jpg|A [[Boeing 767-300F]] with winglets in the former livery|thumb]]
}}
[[File:UPS A300.JPG|An [[Airbus A300|Airbus A300F]] in the current livery|thumb]]
[[File:UPS 757.JPG|A [[Boeing 757]] in the current livery|thumb]]
[[File:McDonnell Douglas MD-11(F) United Parcel Service (UPS) N255UP, CGN Koeln (Koln,Cologne)-Bonn (Nordrhein-Westfalen), Germany PP1345030561.jpg|A [[McDonnell Douglas MD-11|McDonnell Douglas MD-11F]] in the former livery|thumb]]


===Current fleet===
As of June 2012, UPS Airlines has an active fleet of 230 aircraft<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.planespotters.net/Airline/United-Parcel-Service-%28UPS%29 |title=UPS fleet list at |publisher=planespotters.net |date= |accessdate=August 27, 2011}}</ref> with an average age of 14.2 years,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://airfleets.net/ageflotte/UPS.htm |title=UPS fleet age at |publisher=Airfleets.net |date= |accessdate=November 2, 2010}}</ref> and another 9 aircraft on order. In addition, the airline charters 296 aircraft.<ref name="pressroom.ups.com"/>
{{As of|2024|11}}, UPS Airlines has an active fleet of 291 aircraft plus 210 leased or chartered aircraft.<ref name=upsair>{{cite web |title=UPS Aircraft Fleet - Updated 7/31/24 |url=https://about.ups.com/content/dam/upsstories/assets/fact-sheets/airlines-fact-sheets/UPS%20Aircraft%20Fleet%20fact%20sheet_073124.pdf |website=about.ups.com |publisher=[[United Parcel Service|UPS]] |access-date=2 August 2024}}</ref> Operating an all-jet fleet, the airline does not own any turboprop, short-haul aircraft, using leased or chartered aircraft.<ref name=upsair/>


UPS Airlines is now the world's largest operator of the Boeing 747-8F (30 aircraft); it is the second-largest operator of the Boeing 757 and 767, McDonnell Douglas MD-11F, and Airbus A300. The airline was also the largest operator of the Douglas DC-8 for a number of years, as it operated nearly half the active examples of the type worldwide at the time of its 2009 retirement.
{| class="wikitable" style="margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;"

|+ '''UPS Fleet'''
{| class="wikitable" style=";margin:auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|+ UPS Airlines fleet
!Aircraft
!Aircraft
!In Service
!In service
!Orders
!Orders
!Notes
!Notes
|-
|-
|[[Airbus A300#A300-600|Airbus A300-600RF]]
|[[Airbus A300-600RF]]
|52
|<center>53
|<center>&mdash;
|&mdash;
|Retrofitted with new flight-deck avionics between 2021 and 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://airlinegeeks.com/2019/09/23/ups-announces-successful-test-flight-of-a300-with-flight-deck-upgrades/|title=UPS Announces Successful Test Flight of A300 with Flight Deck Upgrades|website=AirlineGeeks.com|language=en|date=2019-09-23|access-date=2020-02-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-28 |title=First UPS' A300 facelift completed {{!}} Airbus |url=https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/news/2021-02-first-ups-a300-facelift-completed |access-date=2022-08-08 |website=www.airbus.com |language=en}}</ref><br />Older aircraft to be retired. One crashed as [[Flight 1354]].
|
|-
|-
|[[Boeing 747-400#747-400 Converted Freighter|Boeing 747-400BDSF]]
|[[Boeing 747-400|Boeing 747-400BCF]]
|2
|<center>2
|<center>&mdash;
|&mdash;
|
|
|-
|-
|[[Boeing 747-400#747-400F|Boeing 747-400F]]
|[[Boeing 747-400F]]
|<center>11
|11
|<center>&mdash;
|&mdash;
|One crashed as Flight 6.
|-
|[[Boeing 747-8F]]
|30
|&mdash;
|Largest operator of its type.<br />Acquired second-hand aircraft in 2024.<ref name=":13">{{Cite web|url=https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/ups-to-introduce-second-hand-boeing-747-8fs-in-2024|title=UPS to introduce second-hand Boeing 747-8Fs in 2024|website=aerotinehub|date=23 March 2023}}</ref>
|-
|[[Boeing 757-200PF]]
|75
|&mdash;
|Launch customer of its type.
|-
|[[Boeing 767-300|Boeing 767-300BCF]]
|6
|&mdash;
|
|
|-
|-
|[[Boeing 757#757-200PF|Boeing 757-200PF]]
|[[Boeing 767-300|Boeing 767-300BDSF]]
|4
|<center>75
|<center>&mdash;
|&mdash;
|
|
|-
|-
|[[Boeing 767-300F]]
|[[Boeing 767-300F]]
|77
|<center>50
|4
|<center>9
|Deliveries from 2023 to 2027.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web|url=https://boeing.mediaroom.com/2021-12-21-Boeing-Announces-UPS-Purchase-of-19-767-Freighters|title=Boeing Announces UPS Purchase of 19 767 Freighters|website=Boeing Commercial|date=2021-12-21|access-date=2021-12-21}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite web|url=https://boeing.mediaroom.com/2022-08-29-Boeing-Announces-UPS-Purchase-of-Eight-Additional-767s|title=Boeing Announces UPS Purchase of Eight Additional 767s|website=Boeing Commercial|date=2022-08-29|access-date=2022-08-29}}</ref><br>
|Additional aircraft entering service 2009-2012
|-
|-
|[[McDonnell Douglas MD-11F]]
|[[McDonnell Douglas MD-11F]]
|29
|<center>39
|<center>&mdash;
|&mdash;
|Including N262UP, the last [[MD-11]] ever built.<br />To be retired.
|
|-
|-
!Total
!Total
!230
!291
!9
!4
!
|}

===Historical fleet===

{| class="wikitable" style="margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; text-align:center"
|+
!Aircraft
!Total
!Introduce
!Retired
!Replaced by
!Remarks
|-
|[[Boeing 727-100|Boeing 727-100/QF]]
|51
|1991
|2007
|[[Boeing 757-200PF]]
|Last commercial flight was in August 2007.
|-
|[[Boeing 727-200|Boeing 727-200C/QC]]
|8
|1988
|2007
|[[Boeing 757-200PF]]
|Last commercial flight was in August 2007.
|-
|[[Boeing 747-100|Boeing 747-100F]]
|10
|1971
|2008
|[[Boeing 747-400F]]</br>[[McDonnell Douglas MD-11F]]
|
|
|-
|[[Boeing 747-200|Boeing 747-200F]]
|8
|1971
|2009
|[[Boeing 747-400F]]</br>[[McDonnell Douglas MD-11F]]
|[[United Parcel Service|UPS]] received its first of its type on January 15, 1971.
|-
|[[Douglas DC-8|Douglas DC-8-60F/70F]]
|53
|1959
|2009
|[[Boeing 747-400F]]</br>[[Boeing 757-200PF]]</br>[[McDonnell Douglas MD-11F]]
|Last commercial flight was on May 11, 2009. One destroyed by fire as flight 1307.
|}
|}


===Branding/livery===
In January 2005, UPS Airlines placed an order for 10 freighter versions of the [[Airbus A380#A380-800 freighter|Airbus A380]] with an option for 10 more; as part of the deal, the airline reduced an existing commitment for 90 Airbus A300 freighters to 53.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20061209225627/http://www.pressroom.ups.com/pressreleases/archives/archive/0,1363,4503,00.html |title=Internet Archive Wayback Machine |publisher=Web.archive.org |date=2006-12-09 |accessdate=2012-05-17}}</ref> In March 2007, the order was cancelled, citing production delays that pushed the initial delivery date beyond 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20071218135242/http://www.pressroom.ups.com/pressreleases/archives/archive/0,1363,4873,00.html |title=Internet Archive Wayback Machine |publisher=Web.archive.org |date=2007-12-18 |accessdate=2012-05-17}}</ref>
While UPS is distinguished by its UPS Brown delivery vehicles, to reduce heat absorption and save weight,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.traveller.com.au/the-reasons-why-planes-are-nearly-always-painted-white-h0vs60|title=Why planes are nearly always painted white|last=Kim|first=Soo|date=2018-02-08|work=Traveller|access-date=2018-08-20|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.scienceabc.com/eyeopeners/why-airplanes-are-usually-white-in-color.html|title=Why Are Airplanes Usually White? » Science ABC|date=2016-01-09|work=Science ABC|access-date=2018-08-20|language=en-US}}</ref> brown has been reduced to a secondary color on UPS Airlines aircraft. During its existence, the airline has used two liveries on its aircraft fleet. In line with the long-running UPS tradition of not displaying vehicle-manufacturer branding, UPS Airlines aircraft do not have any markings indicating aircraft type.
In August 2005, the airline ordered 8 Boeing 747-400's to increase capacity on its major trunk routes to Europe, Asia, and North America. Deliveries of these started in June 2007.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20050913184255/http://www.pressroom.ups.com/pressreleases/current/0,1088,4591,00.html UPS press release], August 17, 2005</ref> UPS Airlines placed a firm order for 27 additional [[Boeing 767|Boeing 767–300 Freighter]]s in February 2007 to be delivered 2009 to 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pressroom.ups.com/pressreleases/archives/archive/0,1363,4858,00.html |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070209012140/http://www.pressroom.ups.com/pressreleases/archives/archive/0,1363,4858,00.html |archivedate=2007-02-09 |title=Press Release |publisher=UPS |date=February 5, 2007|accessdate=January 8, 2012}}</ref>


==== 1988–2003: United Parcel Service ====
==Use of Continuous Descent Approach (CDA) to save fuel==
From its 1988 formation to 2003, UPS Airlines used a bi-color brown and white livery on its aircraft. Most of the fuselage was painted white with the vertical stabilizer painted the same UPS Brown as its delivery vehicles. On the centerline of the fuselage, a brown [[cheatline]] was applied; as its [[Boeing 727]], [[Douglas DC-8]], [[McDonnell Douglas MD-11]], [[Boeing 767-300F]], and [[Boeing 747]] fleet were converted passenger aircraft, this was done to further cover up the passenger windows. On the forward third of the fuselage above the cheatline was painted: ''"United Parcel Service"''.
{{see also|Continuous Descent Approach}}
UPS Airlines is experimenting with a [[Global Positioning System]]-based landing procedure, called Continuous-Descent Approach at the Worldport, replacing the traditional holding pattern and step-wise descent. CDA is used to reduce the time and fuel needed to approach a runway and land by eliminating the need to alternatively reduce and increase throttle to descend and level off. UPS Airlines estimates that this procedure saves an average of 250 to 465&nbsp;lbs (110–210 kilograms) of fuel per flight. CDA is part of the [[Federal Aviation Administration]]'s long-term "Next-Gen" [[air traffic control]] plan.<ref>Getting Air Traffic Under Control, Time Magazine, October 19, 2009, p.Global 8</ref>


==== 2003–2014: Worldwide Services: Synchronizing the world of commerce ====
==Major incidents and accidents==
In 2003, to commemorate the official name change of United Parcel Service to UPS, the company logo was given a redesign along with a redesign of the UPS Airlines livery. With nearly the entire fuselage painted white, the brown portion of the tail was changed to sweep above the rear fuselage, coming to a point near the front of the wing; the white and brown portions of the fuselage were separated by a gold stripe. In place of the ''"United Parcel Service"'' was painted in two lines'': "Worldwide Services: Synchronizing the world of commerce".'' The only aircraft in the UPS Airlines fleet that did not adopt the "Worldwide Services" livery were the Boeing 747–100, Boeing 747–200, along with the majority of the Boeing 727 fleet, as these aircraft were in the process of being phased out in the mid-2000s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2016/10/27/UPS-places-order-for-14-new-Boeing-747-8-air-freighters/7271477588692/|title=UPS places order for 14 new Boeing 747-8 air freighters}}</ref>
{{further2|[[UPS Airlines Flight 6]]}}

* On September 11, 1998, Flight 744, N316UP, a [[Boeing 767|Boeing 767–300]], suffered substantial damage after running off the runway at [[Ellington Field]] from [[Louisville International Airport]]. The airport was experiencing a major storm at the time of the landing, and the aircraft was unable to stop on a wet runway with a strong tailwind. After running off the runway, the aircraft's right landing gear broke off and the right engine separated from the wing. The aircraft was put back into service after major repairs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19980911-1 |title=ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 767-34AF N316UP Houston-Ellington Field, TX (EFD) |publisher=Aviation-safety.net |date= |accessdate=November 2, 2010}}</ref>
==== 2014–present: Worldwide Services ====
* On June 7, 2005, Flight 6971, N250UP, a [[McDonnell Douglas MD-11]], suffered substantial damage after a landing gear collapse at [[Louisville International Airport]] from [[Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport]]. The crew accidentally lowered the nose of the aircraft too quickly, buckling the front landing gear. The aircraft was put back into service after a $10 million repair.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20050607-0 |title=ASN Aircraft accident McDonnell Douglas MD-11F N250UP Louisville-Standiford Field, KY (SDF) |publisher=Aviation-safety.net |date= |accessdate=November 2, 2010}}</ref>
In 2014, in line with UPS delivery vehicles, UPS Airlines phased in a revised version of its ''"Worldwide Services"'' livery, removing the subtitle ''"Synchronizing the world of commerce"'' from the fuselage. The UPS emblem and gold body stripe painted brighter, with the gradient shading removed from the emblem. Along with aircraft entering service, the livery was phased into the airline fleet as aircraft underwent repainting for maintenance, with Dean Baldwin Painting at [[Grissom Aeroplex]] in Peru, Indiana (a 40-minute flight from Worldport) updating the exteriors.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ajc.com/business/ups-launches-new-campaign-slogan/z1KMdzXA6thQqRnMb1I0RL/|title=UPS launches new ad campaign, slogan|newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|last1=Yamanouchi|first1=Kelly}}</ref>
* On February 8, 2006, Flight 1307, N748UP, a [[Douglas DC-8]], was destroyed by fire at [[Philadelphia International Airport]] from [[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]]. Just before landing the crew reported a smoke detector activated in the cargo hold. After landing, the cargo hold of the aircraft caught fire. The source of the fire was never found.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20060208-0 |title=ASN Aircraft accident McDonnell Douglas DC-8-71F N748UP Philadelphia International Airport, PA (PHL) |publisher=Aviation-safety.net |date= |accessdate=November 2, 2010}}</ref>

* On September 3, 2010, [[UPS Airlines Flight 6|Flight 6]],<ref>"[http://www.ups.com/pressroom/us/press_releases/press_release/Press+Releases/Current+Press+Releases/ci.Statement+on+Aircraft+Incident.syndication Statement on Aircraft Incident]." [[United Parcel Service]]. September 3, 2010. Retrieved on September 3, 2010.</ref> N571UP, a [[Boeing 747-400#747-400F|Boeing 747-400F]], crashed near the [[Dubai Silicon Oasis]] at approximately 7:45pm local time after declaring an emergency fifty minutes after takeoff. Both crew members were killed, the first such casualties in UPS' history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/09/2010931811367644.html |title=Plane crashes near Dubai airport – Middle East |publisher=Al Jazeera English |date=September 4, 2010 |accessdate=November 2, 2010}}</ref> On 6 November 2010 Agence France-Presse released the Arabic Al-Qaeda statement that the crash was due to on-board explosion of an air package collected in Yemen, to date this has not been proven.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lenta.ru/news/2010/11/05/affiliate/ |title=Arabic "Al-Qaeda" confirmed UPS cargo plane blowing up (Аравийская "Аль-Каеда" созналась в подрыве самолета UPS) |publisher=Lenta.ru |date=November 6, 2010 }}</ref>
== Operations ==

===Hot-spare program===
As a safeguard against failure of service resulting from weather, mechanical failure, or any unexpected reasons, for most of its existence, UPS Airlines has operated a "hot-spare" contingency program.<ref name=":5" /> Similar in intent to the [[Scrambling (military)|scrambling]] of military aircraft, the hot-spare program is designed for a flight crew to takeoff with an empty aircraft within 30 minutes of a request for service.<ref name=":5" /> At any given time, 14 different aircraft are designated at 7 UPS Airlines hubs, equalizing flight distance and time between locations. Four of the six aircraft types flown by the airline are used for hot-spare service (excluding the 747-400 and 747-8).

To ensure that an aircraft can be flight-ready within 30 minutes, hot-spare aircraft are preflighted and fueled ahead of time.<ref name=":5" /> In 2014, UPS launched 275 hot spares in total, allowing 1.5 million packages to make service on time, making almost $32 million in revenue.<ref name=":5">{{cite web|url=http://gearpatrol.com/2015/04/22/on-alert-with-ups-hot-spares/|title=UPS Hot Spares Program - Gear Patrol|date=22 April 2015}}</ref>

===Continuous descent approach (CDA) ===
{{see also|Continuous descent approach}}{{Update|date=June 2018|type=section}}
{{As of|2009}}, UPS Airlines was experimenting with a [[Global Positioning System]]-based landing procedure, called continuous descent approach at the Worldport, replacing the traditional holding pattern and step-wise descent. CDA is used to reduce the time and fuel needed to approach a runway and land by eliminating the need to alternatively reduce and increase throttle to descend and level off. UPS Airlines estimates that this procedure saves an average of 250 to 465&nbsp;lbs (110 to 210 kilograms) of fuel per flight. CDA is part of the [[Federal Aviation Administration]]'s long-term "Next-Gen" [[air traffic control]] plan.<ref>Getting Air Traffic Under Control, Time Magazine, October 19, 2009, p. Global 8</ref>

==Accidents and incidents==
UPS Airlines has experienced two fatal crashes which resulted in four fatalities.
{| class="wikitable"
!Flight number
!Date
!Registration
!Aircraft type
!Fatalities/Occupants
!Notes
|-
|1307
|02/07/2006
|N748UP
|[[Douglas DC-8|Douglas DC-8-71F]]
|0/3
|Destroyed by fire at [[Philadelphia International Airport]] from [[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]]. Just before landing the crew reported a smoke detector activated in the cargo hold. After landing, the cargo hold of the aircraft caught fire. The source of the fire was never found.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20060208-0 |title=ASN Aircraft accident McDonnell Douglas DC-8-71F N748UP Philadelphia International Airport, PA (PHL) |publisher=Aviation-safety.net |access-date=November 2, 2010}}</ref>
|-
|[[UPS Airlines Flight 6|6]]
|09/03/2010
|N571UP
|[[Boeing 747-400#747-400F|Boeing 747-44AF]]
|2/2
|Crashed near the Dubai Silicon Oasis at approximately 7:45pm local time after declaring an emergency fifty minutes after takeoff due to fire in main cargo hold. Both crew members were killed, the first such casualties in UPS Airlines' history. NTSB reports the fire was started from the combustion of [[Lithium-ion battery|lithium-ion batteries]] on the main cargo deck, which quickly spread to all cargo despite depressurization of the aircraft.<ref>"[http://www.ups.com/pressroom/us/press_releases/press_release/Press+Releases/Current+Press+Releases/ci.Statement+on+Aircraft+Incident.syndication Statement on Aircraft Incident] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100906123411/http://www.ups.com/pressroom/us/press_releases/press_release/Press+Releases/Current+Press+Releases/ci.Statement+on+Aircraft+Incident.syndication |date=2010-09-06 }}." [[United Parcel Service]]. September 3, 2010. Retrieved on September 3, 2010.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/09/2010931811367644.html |title=Plane crashes near Dubai airport – Middle East |publisher=Al Jazeera English |date=September 4, 2010 |access-date=November 2, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 747-44AF (SCD) N571UP Dubai Airport (DXB)|url = http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20100903-0|website = aviation-safety.net|access-date = 2015-10-19}}</ref>
|-
|[[UPS Airlines Flight 1354|1354]]
|08/14/2013
|N155UP
|[[Airbus A300-600|Airbus A300F4-622R]]
|2/2
|Crashed in an open field on approach to [[Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport]] in [[Birmingham, Alabama]], killing both the captain and first officer. NTSB report cites pilot error as cause to the crash. Neither crew member had received adequate rest before the flight and missed a step in programing the [[Flight Management Computer|FMC]] for the approach to the runway.<ref>"[http://www.pressroom.ups.com/Press+Releases/Current+Press+Releases/Statement+on+UPS+Flight+1354]." [[United Parcel Service]]. August 14, 2013. Retrieved on August 14, 2013.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = ASN Aircraft accident Airbus A300F4-622R N155UP Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, AL (BHM)|url = http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20130814-0|website = aviation-safety.net|access-date = 2015-10-19}}</ref>
|-
|61
|06/06/2016
|N277UP
|[[McDonnell Douglas MD-11|McDonnell Douglas MD-11F]]
|0/4
|Suffered a runway excursion and nose gear collapse in a takeoff accident at [[Incheon International Airport|Seoul-Incheon International Airport (ICN)]]. Takeoff from runway 33L was aborted and the aircraft continued past the end of the runway. The nose gear collapsed and the no. 1 and 3 engines contacted the grass. The flight was bound for [[Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport]]. Aircraft was written off.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20160606-0|title=ASN Aircraft accident McDonnell Douglas MD-11F N277UP Seoul-Incheon International Airport (ICN)|first=Harro|last=Ranter}}</ref>
|}


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Air cargo]]
{{Portal|Aviation|Louisville|Kentucky|Companies}}
*[[United Parcel Service]] (Parent company)
*[[Aviation]]
*[[UPS Flight Forward]]
* [[United Parcel Service]] (Parent company)
*[[FedEx Express]]
{{br}}
*[[DHL Aviation]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist}}
{{de| UPS Airlines}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.pressroom.ups.com/Media+Kits/Airlines?srch_pos=6&srch_phr=UPS+Airlines Airlines-UPS Pressroom]-UPS Website with UPS Airlines information
* [https://www.pressroom.ups.com/pressroom/media-kits/mediakits.page?id=1426416925389-394&ConceptType=MediaKits UPS Airlines Pressroom]


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Latest revision as of 14:35, 6 December 2024

UPS Airlines
IATA ICAO Call sign
5X UPS UPS
Founded1988; 36 years ago (1988)
(successor to UPS air cargo that began in 1929; 95 years ago (1929))
AOC #IPXA097B[1]
Hubs
Fleet size296 owned
210 leased or chartered
Destinations815 (400 domestic, 415 international)
Parent companyUnited Parcel Service Inc
HeadquartersLouisville, Kentucky, US
Key peopleJim Joseph (President)[3]
Employees26,328[7]
Websitewww.ups.com

UPS Airlines is a major American cargo airline based in Louisville, Kentucky, US.[8] One of the largest cargo airlines worldwide in terms of freight volume flown, UPS Airlines flies to 815 destinations worldwide.[9] It has been a wholly owned subsidiary of United Parcel Service since its launch in 1988.

In line with passenger airlines, UPS Airlines operates under the hub-and-spoke model. The airline's primary hub in the United States is at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, where it built a 5,200,000 square foot facility known as UPS Worldport.[10] In addition to Worldport, UPS has several secondary hubs across the United States and international hubs in Canada, China, England, Germany, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico.

The pilots of UPS Airlines are represented by the Independent Pilots Association.

History

[edit]
A Boeing 727-100F taxiing in Louisville, Kentucky
A Douglas DC-8-73F landing at Louisville, Kentucky
A Boeing 747-100F in Tokyo Narita
A McDonnell Douglas MD-11 in Dubai
A UPS Boeing 747-200 in the Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics sponsorship livery taxiing in Tokyo Narita
An Airbus A300-600F in the original livery in Denver

1929-1931: First UPS air service

[edit]

The origin of transporting packages by air for UPS (then United Parcel Service) dates to 1929. Similar to the US Postal Service, UPS packages were transported as baggage on commercial airline flights.[11] Many packages were shipped by the Ford Trimotors of United Airlines. After Black Tuesday and the beginning of the Great Depression, the air service would be discontinued by the end of 1931. However, the air service would lead to the expansion beyond the West Coast; in 1930, the company moved operations from Oakland to New York City and established operations in other regions across the country as well.

1950s-1970s: Packages as luggage

[edit]

After World War II, UPS (in the process of acquiring common carrier rights for every address in the United States) revisited the idea of shipping packages by air. Starting in 1953, 2-day delivery was offered on coast-to-coast packages; the service was called Blue Label Air. As before, UPS package volume was transported on commercial airline flights. Initially unprofitable, Blue Label Air became popular as its speed created enough demand to maintain a profit.

In 1975, UPS started its first international operations as it expanded into Canada, with an additional expansion into West Germany a year later.[12]

As UPS had become an international company, access to its own cargo aircraft had become a more apparent issue. In 1976, competitor Federal Express (which owned its own fleet of jet aircraft) had turned a profit, showcasing that package delivery companies did not have to exclusively rely on commercial aircraft to transport their volume.

In 1978, the Airline Deregulation Act gave UPS a significant opportunity: the company could now establish its own airline and flying from city to city would require far fewer legislative hurdles as the federal government now encouraged competition between airlines.

1980s: Establishment of UPS Airlines

[edit]

In 1980, UPS opened its first major hub for sorting packages transported by aircraft, located in Louisville, Kentucky. Located at the westernmost point of the Eastern time zone, Louisville is accessible (by jet aircraft) across the majority of the contiguous United States in less than three hours. In contrast to chief competitor Federal Express (which owned its own aircraft), in the early 1980s, air operations of UPS were undertaken by several contractors, including Evergreen International Airlines, Interstate Airlines, Ryan Air, and Orion Air.[13][14] Through its contractors, UPS flew its packages using a fleet of commercial aircraft converted to freighters, including Boeing 727-100s, 727-200s, Douglas DC-8s, and Boeing 747-100s.[14]

In 1982, UPS introduced its Next-Day Air service, guaranteeing overnight delivery on certain packages.[15]

To expand its flight network, UPS opened a distribution facility in Anchorage in 1985. Similar to Louisville, Anchorage was chosen for its strategic geographical position, accessible to 90% of the industrialized world in less than 912 hours flying distance.[16][17]

In 1986, in an effort to obtain service rights to Japan, UPS entered into a joint venture with DHL, named International Parcel Express (IPX).[13] IPX was rejected for use in Japan, leading UPS to purchase the DHL share of the joint venture in 1987.[13] At the end of 1987, UPS ended the use of contract flights by Evergreen, Ryan, and Orion. Using the flight certificate intended for the IPX joint venture, the renamed UPS Airlines commenced operations in January 1988, adopting many flight crews from Orion Air.[13][14]

1990s: Network expansion

[edit]

At the 1988 founding of UPS Airlines, the company operated a route network serving 41 countries connecting the United States and Canada to Asia and Europe. To expand and modernize its jet fleet, at the end of 1987, UPS purchased dedicated freighter variants of the Boeing 757. In 1995, UPS purchased a second aircraft type from Boeing, the Boeing 767 freighter. The launch customer of both aircraft, UPS Airlines would purchase 75 757s and 32 767s, more than doubling the size of its aircraft fleet.

To update the oldest aircraft in its fleet, the 727-100QF conversion was introduced (QF=Quiet Freighter). In place of a hush kit, the QF conversion changed the aircraft from Pratt & Whitney JT8D to Rolls-Royce Tay turbofans.[14]

In 1991, to gain the ability to fly domestic cargo flights within Europe, UPS entered into a partnership with Danish airline Star Air (part of the Maersk conglomerate), leasing several 727 freighters to the airline (later replaced by 757 freighters).

In the early 1990s, to add capacity to its network, UPS Airlines opened additional hubs, with primary hubs in Rockford, Illinois (Chicago) and Philadelphia; secondary hubs were opened in Dallas/Fort Worth; Columbia, South Carolina; and Ontario, California (Los Angeles).

With most of its aircraft flying primarily on weeknights, the airline was eager to find other ways to produce income from its fleet. In the 1990s, eight 727 freighters were converted (at a cost of $2.5 million each) into 727-100QC (QC=Quick Change) freighters with the ability to be re-converted into passenger aircraft for the purpose of chartered flights. After disappointing results, in 2001, UPS ended charter service with quick-change freighters, with the aircraft returned to cargo service.

2000s: Worldport and network diversification

[edit]

Following the addition of primary and secondary hubs to the airline network during the 1990s, for much of the next decade, additional demand led to massive expansion of its central Louisville air hub. From 1999 to 2002, in a $1 billion expansion, the Louisville hub was doubled in size (to 4 million square feet), with the hub adapting the name of the expansion project, Worldport.[18] As part of the 2004 purchase of Menlo Worldwide Forwarding, a second expansion was completed in 2006 to expand heavy-freight operations in the UPS systems; similar expansions were added to the largest UPS hubs in the United States. From 2006 to 2010, a third expansion added over 1 million square feet to the Worldport facility (to 5.2 million square feet) and added additional ramp space for aircraft.

During the 2000s, further efforts were made by UPS to expand its flight network. In 2000, the company acquired Challenge Air Cargo to expand its services in Latin America.[15] In a new concept, UPS introduced several "around the world" flights; originating from Louisville, the long-distance flights have several intermediate stops in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, before returning to Worldport.[15] In April 2001, UPS Airlines launched its first direct flights to China, providing service six days a week.[15] In 2004, parent company UPS acquired Menlo Worldwide Forwarding (the successor to Emery Worldwide) to expand its heavy-freight operations.[15]

Fleet modernization

[edit]

During the 2000s, the makeup of the UPS Airlines fleet underwent considerable change. As part of a $5 billion purchase of 60 aircraft, UPS phased in its first Airbus A300F freighters in 2000 (its first Airbus aircraft).[19] The same year, the airline announced a $2 billion purchase of 13 McDonnell Douglas MD-11F freighters (with an additional option for 22); in contrast to the A300 freighters, the MD-11s were conversions of recently retired passenger aircraft.[20]

As part of the company rebranding from United Parcel Service to UPS in early 2003, the airline redesigned its aircraft livery, featuring the redesigned company "shield" logo on the vertical stabilizer.

In January 2005, UPS Airlines became the second airline (behind FedEx Express) to order the Airbus A380-800F, placing an order for 10 aircraft (with an option for 10 more).[21] Configured to load three decks of freight (one more than a Boeing 747 and other widebody aircraft), the A380 freighter would have entered service from 2009 to 2012.[21] Under the terms of the A380 purchase, UPS reduced its order for A300 aircraft from 90 aircraft to 53.[21] To modernize its existing wide-body fleet, 11 additional MD-11Fs and 8 Boeing 747-400Fs were ordered.[15]

In February 2007, UPS Airlines nearly doubled the size of its 767 fleet, as an order was placed for 27 additional freighters, entering service between 2009 and 2012.[22] Following years of delays by Airbus, in March 2007, UPS ended its purchase of the Airbus A380F. Alongside the cancellation by FedEx Express,[23] the final A380 purchase by an American-owned airline ended.

By 2007, additional MD-11s and 747-400s had entered service, leading the airline to gradually phase out its oldest aircraft from the fleet. Initially, the Boeing 727 freighters (the oldest and lowest-capacity aircraft) were retired, replaced on routes by Boeing 757 freighters. During 2008 and 2009, the 747-100 and 747-200 aircraft were retired, replaced by the 747-400s and MD-11Fs. In 2009, UPS Airlines retired its entire fleet of DC-8 aircraft; at the time, its 44 aircraft represented nearly half of the active DC-8 fleet flying worldwide.

2010s: Flying further

[edit]

On February 8, 2010, UPS announced the plans to furlough at least 300 pilots in 2010 and 2011, cancelling a 2009 agreement between the company and the Independent Pilots Association.[24] The remaining pilots not furloughed demonstrated unprecedented unity by not flying overtime while colleagues were laid off. UPS decided to reduce the furlough to 109 pilots. The final pilot furloughed was in August 2010. UPS decided to recall pilots back to work in December 2011. The furlough officially ended in May, 2014 when the first pilot furloughed returned to work.[25] On September 1, 2016, UPS and the IPA agreed to a new 5-year contract. Key components of the agreement were: immediate increases of 14.65% and a signing bonus in place of retroactive pay; 3% annual wage increases through the span of the contract; enhanced pension benefits; crew rest enhancements, including reduced duty period limits for overnight and international flights; additional sleep facilities at major gateways; and sleep modules in UPS Boeing 767 aircraft.[26]

In 2014, the UPS 767 fleet was modified, as all existing aircraft and all aircraft on order were fitted with winglets.[27] While over 10 feet tall, the large winglets were optimized to reduce drag, consequently reducing fuel consumption and emissions.[27] In 2017, 3 767-300ERs were purchased from Japan Airlines, becoming the first converted 767s for UPS.

In October 2016, UPS Airlines announced a $5.2 billion agreement to purchase 14 Boeing 747-8F freighter aircraft (with an option for 14 more).[28][29] While originally planning to end production of the 747 by 2020, along with the UPS purchase, Boeing cites replacement of older aircraft, e-commerce, and demand for larger aircraft across international routes as justification for retaining the 747.[28] In February 2018, UPS exercised its option to purchase the additional 14 747 freighters, making UPS the largest operator of the 747-8 worldwide. As part of the option, UPS also purchased 4 additional Boeing 767-300F freighters, delivered by 2022.[30]

The introduction of the 747-8F fleet allows UPS to introduce its longest-ever flight, flying nonstop from Louisville (Worldport) to its gateway in Dubai International Airport (nearly 6,700 miles).[31] The flight segment is part of an "around the world flight", stopping at its hub in Shenzhen, China and making another stop at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Alaska before returning to Louisville.[31]

2020s

[edit]

In December 2021, UPS placed an order for 19 Boeing 767 freighters, exercising an option for 8 more less than 9 months later.[32][33] Expanding the UPS 767 fleet to 108 (second only to FedEx), the new aircraft are to enter service by 2025.[33] In March 2023, the airline began the acquisition of two Boeing 747-8Fs previously operated by AirBridge Cargo; the aircraft are intended to begin service during 2024.[34]

At the beginning of 2023, UPS announced its plans to phase out its fleet of MD-11F aircraft; initially, six aircraft will be retired during 2023, with the other 34 replaced as it expands its 767 fleet.[35] Though lower in overall payload and range, the 767 houses nearly the same capacity of upper-deck containers and is more fuel-efficient.[36]

Hubs

[edit]
UPS Worldport

Each day, UPS Airlines flies to over 220 countries and territories worldwide, serving 388 airports in the United States with 936 flight segments and 378 international airports with 755 flight segments[3] Using the traditional hub-and-spoke model, UPS Airlines operates through its central facility, Worldport, in Louisville, Kentucky. In addition, the company operates several facilities on a regional level across the United States.

  • Chicago Rockford International Airport in Rockford, Illinois, the second-largest hub of UPS Airlines in terms of average daily package volume. 85 miles northwest of Chicago, the Rockford Regional Air Hub directly serves Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Maryland, Washington DC, Michigan, Minnesota, Texas, California, Arizona and Washington State.[37] Approximately each hour, the facility handles 121,000 individual packages.[37] Along with the 586,000-square-foot (54,400 m2) package-sorting facility, UPS also operates a 65,000-square-foot (6,000 m2) freight facility; the 50-acre (20 ha) UPS ramp has parking for 40 aircraft, the most outside of Worldport.[37]
  • Columbia Metropolitan Airport in Lexington County, South Carolina is the southeastern regional cargo hub for UPS and opened in August 1996. The hub offers next-day, second-day and third-day air service. The buildings encompass 352,000 square feet (32,700 m2) and the 44-acre (180,000 m2) ramp was large enough to hold 22 DC-8 aircraft [38] (ideally up to 14 aircraft parking positions currently with newer aircraft).The hub can process 42,000 packages an hour. Flights average 10 per day, serving Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.[39]
  • Dallas Fort Worth International Airport The Southwest Region Air Hub directly serves Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, Oregon, Hawaii, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia and Washington, DC. Approximately each hour, the facility handles 46,000 individual packages.[37] Along with the 323,000-square-foot (30,000 m2) package-sorting facility, UPS also operates a 49,000-square-foot (4,600 m2) freight facility.[37]
  • Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville, Kentucky, the primary hub of UPS Airlines and home to Worldport, the central facility for sorting domestic packages. With approximately 251 inbound and outbound flights daily, the service area for Worldport is over 200 countries worldwide.[37] Approximately each hour, the facility handles 416,000 individual packages.[37] Along with the 5,200,000-square-foot (480,000 m2) Worldport facility, UPS also operates a 654,000-square-foot (60,800 m2) freight facility at the airport. In addition, UPS Airlines is headquartered at the airport, but the parent company is headquartered in Atlanta.
  • Miami International Airport in Miami-Dade County, Florida. With a service area containing primarily Central and South America, the Latin America/Caribbean Hub also handles domestic packages for the southern United States. The 36,000 square foot facility handles approximately 6,500 individual packages every hour.[37]
  • Ontario International Airport in Ontario, California. 35 miles east of Los Angeles, the West Coast Region Air Hub directly serves California, Oregon, Washington State, Idaho, Nevada, Montana, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas and Nebraska along with Alaska and Hawaii. Approximately each hour, the facility handles 67,000 individual packages.[37] Along with the 779,000-square-foot (72,400 m2) package-sorting facility, UPS also operates a 49,000-square-foot (4,600 m2) freight facility.[37]
  • Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the second-busiest UPS facility in North America, in terms of daily flights.[37] The East Coast Region Air Hub directly serves Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Washington DC, Virginia, West Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, and California.[37] Approximately each hour, the facility handles 95,000 individual packages.[37] Along with the 681,000-square-foot (63,300 m2) package-sorting facility, UPS also operates a 66,000-square-foot (6,100 m2) freight facility.[37]

International hubs

[edit]

UPS Airlines operates several international hubs worldwide outside of Worldport. Two are in North America with two in Europe; three are located in China (Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong), one at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia, and one at Clark International Airport in the Philippines.[2]

Canada

[edit]

Caribbean

[edit]

Europe

[edit]
  • Cologne Bonn Airport in Cologne, Germany. Similar to Worldport, the Cologne Hub has a service area of over 200 countries; to do so, many flights chartered by the company originate from here. Second only to Worldport, the Cologne Hub handles 190,000 packages an hour in the 323,000 square foot (30,000 square metres) facility; with 76 average flights per day, it is the second-busiest UPS hub worldwide, in terms of daily flights.[37]
  • East Midlands Airport in East Midlands, Derby, United Kingdom.

China

[edit]

Southeast Asia

[edit]

Fleet

[edit]
A Boeing 767-300F in the former livery
A Boeing 747-8F in the current livery
A Boeing 747-400F in the former livery.
A Boeing 767-300F with winglets in the former livery
An Airbus A300F in the current livery
A Boeing 757 in the current livery
A McDonnell Douglas MD-11F in the former livery

Current fleet

[edit]

As of November 2024, UPS Airlines has an active fleet of 291 aircraft plus 210 leased or chartered aircraft.[40] Operating an all-jet fleet, the airline does not own any turboprop, short-haul aircraft, using leased or chartered aircraft.[40]

UPS Airlines is now the world's largest operator of the Boeing 747-8F (30 aircraft); it is the second-largest operator of the Boeing 757 and 767, McDonnell Douglas MD-11F, and Airbus A300. The airline was also the largest operator of the Douglas DC-8 for a number of years, as it operated nearly half the active examples of the type worldwide at the time of its 2009 retirement.

UPS Airlines fleet
Aircraft In service Orders Notes
Airbus A300-600RF 52 Retrofitted with new flight-deck avionics between 2021 and 2023.[41][42]
Older aircraft to be retired. One crashed as Flight 1354.
Boeing 747-400BCF 2
Boeing 747-400F 11 One crashed as Flight 6.
Boeing 747-8F 30 Largest operator of its type.
Acquired second-hand aircraft in 2024.[34]
Boeing 757-200PF 75 Launch customer of its type.
Boeing 767-300BCF 6
Boeing 767-300BDSF 4
Boeing 767-300F 77 4 Deliveries from 2023 to 2027.[32][33]
McDonnell Douglas MD-11F 29 Including N262UP, the last MD-11 ever built.
To be retired.
Total 291 4

Historical fleet

[edit]
Aircraft Total Introduce Retired Replaced by Remarks
Boeing 727-100/QF 51 1991 2007 Boeing 757-200PF Last commercial flight was in August 2007.
Boeing 727-200C/QC 8 1988 2007 Boeing 757-200PF Last commercial flight was in August 2007.
Boeing 747-100F 10 1971 2008 Boeing 747-400F
McDonnell Douglas MD-11F
Boeing 747-200F 8 1971 2009 Boeing 747-400F
McDonnell Douglas MD-11F
UPS received its first of its type on January 15, 1971.
Douglas DC-8-60F/70F 53 1959 2009 Boeing 747-400F
Boeing 757-200PF
McDonnell Douglas MD-11F
Last commercial flight was on May 11, 2009. One destroyed by fire as flight 1307.

Branding/livery

[edit]

While UPS is distinguished by its UPS Brown delivery vehicles, to reduce heat absorption and save weight,[43][44] brown has been reduced to a secondary color on UPS Airlines aircraft. During its existence, the airline has used two liveries on its aircraft fleet. In line with the long-running UPS tradition of not displaying vehicle-manufacturer branding, UPS Airlines aircraft do not have any markings indicating aircraft type.

1988–2003: United Parcel Service

[edit]

From its 1988 formation to 2003, UPS Airlines used a bi-color brown and white livery on its aircraft. Most of the fuselage was painted white with the vertical stabilizer painted the same UPS Brown as its delivery vehicles. On the centerline of the fuselage, a brown cheatline was applied; as its Boeing 727, Douglas DC-8, McDonnell Douglas MD-11, Boeing 767-300F, and Boeing 747 fleet were converted passenger aircraft, this was done to further cover up the passenger windows. On the forward third of the fuselage above the cheatline was painted: "United Parcel Service".

2003–2014: Worldwide Services: Synchronizing the world of commerce

[edit]

In 2003, to commemorate the official name change of United Parcel Service to UPS, the company logo was given a redesign along with a redesign of the UPS Airlines livery. With nearly the entire fuselage painted white, the brown portion of the tail was changed to sweep above the rear fuselage, coming to a point near the front of the wing; the white and brown portions of the fuselage were separated by a gold stripe. In place of the "United Parcel Service" was painted in two lines: "Worldwide Services: Synchronizing the world of commerce". The only aircraft in the UPS Airlines fleet that did not adopt the "Worldwide Services" livery were the Boeing 747–100, Boeing 747–200, along with the majority of the Boeing 727 fleet, as these aircraft were in the process of being phased out in the mid-2000s.[45]

2014–present: Worldwide Services

[edit]

In 2014, in line with UPS delivery vehicles, UPS Airlines phased in a revised version of its "Worldwide Services" livery, removing the subtitle "Synchronizing the world of commerce" from the fuselage. The UPS emblem and gold body stripe painted brighter, with the gradient shading removed from the emblem. Along with aircraft entering service, the livery was phased into the airline fleet as aircraft underwent repainting for maintenance, with Dean Baldwin Painting at Grissom Aeroplex in Peru, Indiana (a 40-minute flight from Worldport) updating the exteriors.[46]

Operations

[edit]

Hot-spare program

[edit]

As a safeguard against failure of service resulting from weather, mechanical failure, or any unexpected reasons, for most of its existence, UPS Airlines has operated a "hot-spare" contingency program.[47] Similar in intent to the scrambling of military aircraft, the hot-spare program is designed for a flight crew to takeoff with an empty aircraft within 30 minutes of a request for service.[47] At any given time, 14 different aircraft are designated at 7 UPS Airlines hubs, equalizing flight distance and time between locations. Four of the six aircraft types flown by the airline are used for hot-spare service (excluding the 747-400 and 747-8).

To ensure that an aircraft can be flight-ready within 30 minutes, hot-spare aircraft are preflighted and fueled ahead of time.[47] In 2014, UPS launched 275 hot spares in total, allowing 1.5 million packages to make service on time, making almost $32 million in revenue.[47]

Continuous descent approach (CDA)

[edit]

As of 2009, UPS Airlines was experimenting with a Global Positioning System-based landing procedure, called continuous descent approach at the Worldport, replacing the traditional holding pattern and step-wise descent. CDA is used to reduce the time and fuel needed to approach a runway and land by eliminating the need to alternatively reduce and increase throttle to descend and level off. UPS Airlines estimates that this procedure saves an average of 250 to 465 lbs (110 to 210 kilograms) of fuel per flight. CDA is part of the Federal Aviation Administration's long-term "Next-Gen" air traffic control plan.[48]

Accidents and incidents

[edit]

UPS Airlines has experienced two fatal crashes which resulted in four fatalities.

Flight number Date Registration Aircraft type Fatalities/Occupants Notes
1307 02/07/2006 N748UP Douglas DC-8-71F 0/3 Destroyed by fire at Philadelphia International Airport from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Just before landing the crew reported a smoke detector activated in the cargo hold. After landing, the cargo hold of the aircraft caught fire. The source of the fire was never found.[49]
6 09/03/2010 N571UP Boeing 747-44AF 2/2 Crashed near the Dubai Silicon Oasis at approximately 7:45pm local time after declaring an emergency fifty minutes after takeoff due to fire in main cargo hold. Both crew members were killed, the first such casualties in UPS Airlines' history. NTSB reports the fire was started from the combustion of lithium-ion batteries on the main cargo deck, which quickly spread to all cargo despite depressurization of the aircraft.[50][51][52]
1354 08/14/2013 N155UP Airbus A300F4-622R 2/2 Crashed in an open field on approach to Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport in Birmingham, Alabama, killing both the captain and first officer. NTSB report cites pilot error as cause to the crash. Neither crew member had received adequate rest before the flight and missed a step in programing the FMC for the approach to the runway.[53][54]
61 06/06/2016 N277UP McDonnell Douglas MD-11F 0/4 Suffered a runway excursion and nose gear collapse in a takeoff accident at Seoul-Incheon International Airport (ICN). Takeoff from runway 33L was aborted and the aircraft continued past the end of the runway. The nose gear collapsed and the no. 1 and 3 engines contacted the grass. The flight was bound for Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Aircraft was written off.[55]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Federal Aviation Administration - Airline Certificate Information - Detail View". av-info.faa.gov. Retrieved 2019-06-27.
  2. ^ a b "UPS Expands in Asia With Hub at Clark Airport in the Philippines". finance.yahoo.com. Yahoo! Finance. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "UPS Air Operations Facts - UPS Pressroom". Pressroom.ups.com. 2008-12-15. Archived from the original on 2015-05-12. Retrieved 2012-05-17.
  4. ^ "Welcome to UPS Malaysia". ups.com.
  5. ^ "UPS and Shanghai Announce First-Ever U.S. Air Hub in China". 2007-04-12.
  6. ^ "UPS launches Shenzhen flights". Ups.com. February 8, 2010. Archived from the original on July 24, 2011. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
  7. ^ "fact sheets" (PDF).
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  10. ^ "Inside Louisville's UPS Worldport". AeroSavvy. 2017-04-25. Retrieved 2021-03-14.
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  14. ^ a b c d "Flying Dudes - Orion Air". www.dudesdownunder.com. Retrieved 2018-08-18.
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  17. ^ "98.5 tons of holiday-rush packages stop in Alaska". USA Today.
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  33. ^ a b c "Boeing Announces UPS Purchase of Eight Additional 767s". Boeing Commercial. 2022-08-29. Retrieved 2022-08-29.
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  38. ^ "Columbia Metropolitan Airport".
  39. ^ "Richland County Economic Development Office > Community Data > Transportation > Airports". richlandcountysc.com. Retrieved 2021-08-07.
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  48. ^ Getting Air Traffic Under Control, Time Magazine, October 19, 2009, p. Global 8
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  54. ^ "ASN Aircraft accident Airbus A300F4-622R N155UP Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, AL (BHM)". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 2015-10-19.
  55. ^ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident McDonnell Douglas MD-11F N277UP Seoul-Incheon International Airport (ICN)".
[edit]