Site Admin

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 949
Location: Carmel, IN

Over the past year or so, FedEx has announced a couple of things of interest to INDAirport.org.

One announcement was about FedEx's plans to initiate service to China. Their current intention is to serve China using its IND hub, by flying direct from PEK, CAN, and other Chinese cities to IND with a stop in ANC. FedEx had already indicated that IND would surpass MEM as their largest hub within a few years, since MEM has no further room for expansion and IND has it in spades. This could be huge for Indy and for the airport in general.

The other announcement was FedEx's purchase orders for A380 cargo planes. This is most exciting. Imagine sitting on high school road and watching one of those big beasts fly over your head and land at IND. Awesome. It's proabable that FedEx will completely base the A380 fleet here, and possible that they could use part of the former UA maintenance hub to service them. Again, good for Indy and for the airport.

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

Oh yeah! I hope they make provisions for spotters because it will become a problem as the A380's start coming in. Without a "park" like which used to exist along airport property before 9/11 I would expect the shoulders of I-70 along the parallel runways to become a parking lot for people watching for the A380 to come in.

Site Admin

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 949
Location: Carmel, IN

And I'll be among the first to be there!

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

With Fedex @ IND poised to become the largest cargo operation in the world in the coming years I'd look to get one of those catering trucks and park where all the spotters go and sell food and drinks.

Member

Joined: 21 Jun 2005
Posts: 28
Location: Indianapolis

A couple of things I can confirm. First, that IND will become FedEx's largest hub by 2010 when expansion is complete. In FedEx's master developmental plan for IND, there are numerous stages of expansion and they are less than half way through. Currently, IND serves primarily as FedEx's international hub, while MEM serves primarily as it's domestic. Through the subsequent expansion stages, these two roles will be reversed. Secondly, IND will see an A380 by 2007. I know that these points are nothing new to us, but it was a point of contention and debate in other forums. Perhaps they were just jealous.

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

fedexexpress mentioned to me back on a.net that he has a copy of the expansion plans for his company. Maybe he could fedex me a copy and I could scan it and put it online. Just send me a private message if you have something you want scanned and put on here.

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

Are plans still on for the A380 at IND? While the current runways may be big enough to handle passenger versions of the A380 are they long enough to handle the cargo versions? Is that perhaps why the 3rd runway is going in? Will the 3rd runway need to be built in order to meet the A380 anticipated delivery?

Site Admin

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 949
Location: Carmel, IN

Haven't followed up on that for a while, but last I read about it, whatever the reason for the I-70 relocation, that was what would allow for the A380. I was thinking the I-70 shift was for extending a runway, not for the third runway. I doubt a third runway will be built in time for the A380's arrival in '07, so that still sounds right to me. I'll see if I can find more info...

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

Is there room even with the shift to add a few thousand extra feet? The length I had seen posted looked more like an alternate shuttle landing site

Site Admin

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 949
Location: Carmel, IN

Turns out the third runway is in the master site plan, but no definitive timetable for its construction yet.

IND only needs to modify some of the taxiways to accomodate the A380's wingspan when turning, etc. It will definitely be ready for the FedEx monster.

The I-70 project both shifted the interstate to the south AND lowered it. The shift to the south looks like it will support the expansion of the FedEx facility, by allowing them to add to the SW end of it.

The lowering of the highway is to allow for the addition of a taxiway to the third runway. The third runway will be built SOUTH of I-70. So essentially, I-70 from 465 to Six Points Rd will pass between the second and third runways.

If you've got Google Earth, zoom to the airport. The sat photo is from around spring of 2004, when the interstate project was still unfinished. It shows the new route. You can see how the third runway will fit. Pretty cool, actually.

Member

Joined: 11 Feb 2012
Posts: 165
Location: Indianapolis, IN

Did'nt FedEx used to do the Hong Kong-Indianapolis route with the B777 a couple of years ago.

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

I'm not sure what VHHH is but I don't think so. I believe the 777 to IND is relatively new.

Member

Joined: 28 Apr 2008
Posts: 157
Location:

Fedex,

Yes, they did briefly fly from Hong Kong to Indy using 777s. They've since shifted that trip back to MEM.