FedEx: first-ever panda roundtrip deliveries
FedEx Corporation transported six giant pandas between the USA and China on two separate flights this week. The roundtrip journey departed Atlanta, GA, arrived in Chengdu, where it delivered four pandas and then returned to Washington, DC with two pandas.
Richard W. Smith, COO, international, and CEO, airline, FedEx: "We have had the privilege of transporting pandas since 2000, but this was our first roundtrip move, delivering the bears to and from China within the same aircraft journey.”
Including these moves, FedEx has already flown 21 pandas to and from China, donating the transportation cost as part of its ongoing corporate social responsibility and environmental conservation efforts.
Previous "FedEx Panda Express" flights include: five times from USA to China (2010, 2017, 2019 and twice 2023), twice from China to USA (200 and 2003), and once each from China to Scotland (2011), France (2012) and Canada (2013). (ah)