Quantcast

FedEx completes first-ever roundtrip panda deliveries between US and China

Qantas engineers walk off job on one of the busiest travel days of the year
South Korea to safeguard competition after Korean Air, Asiana merger
Global Airline Industry Revenues Forecast To Top $1 Trillion For First Time In 2025
EasyJet to launch six new routes from the UK next year with £24 flights
A No-Frills Airline Is Getting Into the Premium Game
TAKING OFF: Major airline introduces new inflight service rules with less time to order your drinks
2 Delta flight attendants fail breathalyzer test before flight to JFK
EasyJet reveals plans for new flights from regional UK airport next summer
Airlines not switching quickly enough to green jet fuel, study says
Alaska Airlines tech issue briefly grounds planes in Seattle, disrupts bookings on Cyber Monday
US Senate panel criticizes rising airline seat fees, will call execs to testify
Spirit’s Demise Is a Lesson in ‘Airline-o-nomics’
Inside BA’s new first-class suites: £800 an hour for most private seat
Focus: US airline flight crews confident and angry as unions seek richer contracts
Hawaiian Airlines Eliminates Widebody Route Amid Alaska Airlines Merger
US budget airlines are struggling. Will pursuing premium passengers solve their problems?
Delta CEO says the Trump administration will reverse government ‘overreach’ seen under Biden
Spirit Airlines files for bankruptcy: How will it affect your travel plans?
British Airways yet to identify cause of latest IT meltdown
Delta Airlines Will Start Serving Shake Shack Cheeseburgers Next Month
United Sees Nearly 30% Surge in Travel to European Christmas Markets
Budget airline Israir to launch flights between Israel and NY, ending wartime monopoly by flagship carrier El Al
Asia's airlines blame supply chain woes for disrupted operations
Qantas and Qatar Airways: Planned partnership in the Australian aviation industry under the microscope
Spirit Airlines delays release of Q3 financial results as debt restructuring talks heat up
Delta investigating after plane’s nose mysteriously suffered damage
What Elon Musk's Starlink means for airlines
CAP OFF Major twist in Dublin Airport passenger cap row as High Court pauses decision in victory for airlines next summer season
Riyadh Air plans new jet order decision early next year
Calls for a blanket ban on politicians receiving free flight upgrades
FedEx completes first-ever roundtrip panda deliveries between US and China
Policy
Webp 1rxjc6i53wek612b0m8c45e1jg8i
Jill Brannon FedEx Executive Leadership Executive Vice President, Chief Sales Officer | FedEx

FedEx Corporation has successfully completed its first-ever roundtrip delivery of giant pandas between the United States and China. The transportation involved two separate flights using a FedEx Boeing 777-F, known as the "FedEx Panda Express."

The journey began in Atlanta, Georgia, where four giant pandas were transported from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport in China. The flight departed on October 12 and arrived on October 13. The pandas included Lun Lun and Yang Yang, both 27 years old, along with their twin offspring Ya Lun and Xi Lun. These pandas have been residing at Zoo Atlanta since 1999 and are now at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.

On the return flight from Chengdu to Washington, D.C., FedEx transported two-year-old pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI). This leg of the journey took place from October 14 to October 15. Bao Li is noted as the grandcub of Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, who were also transported by FedEx in November 2023.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

Richard W. Smith, chief operating officer for International operations and CEO of Airline at FedEx, stated: “Each giant panda move is special, and we’re always honored when selected as the trusted transportation provider.” He emphasized that this was their first roundtrip move involving delivery to and from China within a single aircraft journey.

FedEx has collaborated with the Chinese government and global zoos for over two decades to facilitate panda transportations. The company donated transportation costs as part of its corporate social responsibility efforts focused on environmental conservation.

Animal care experts accompanied the flights to ensure the safety and comfort of the animals during transit. The only cargo besides supplies such as bamboo was the pandas themselves.

Upon arrival in Washington, D.C., Bao Li and Qing Bao entered quarantine before their public debut scheduled for January 2025.

This operation marks another milestone for FedEx's ongoing involvement in panda conservation efforts globally.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Delta Air Lines is adjusting its service between Atlanta and Anchorage, extending flights beyond the summer travel season to a year-round offering.

May 15, 2025

Real-life events of snakes appearing aboard flights have been documented, evoking memories of the 2006 film "Snakes on a Plane."

Apr 9, 2025

Air France is among the largest operators of the Airbus A350.

Apr 9, 2025

Talks continue regarding the possibility of resuming direct flights between the United States and Russia.

Apr 9, 2025

Travel between the East Coast of North America and Europe usually spans six to eight hours.

Apr 9, 2025

Private jets range in size and capability, from small aircraft like the Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet, known for its limited capacity, to heavy jets designed for ultra-long-haul flights.

Apr 9, 2025