Exploration camp Federal Express: the world's largest express delivery, a total of 643 aircraft – FedEx, express-IT information
Memphis airport is less than 4 million passengers a year, never Chinese tourists visited United States preferred. But what most people don't know is, here is one of busiest air cargo hub in the world.
"Evening on the same day up to about 100,000 employees, equal to v Tennessee population in big cities. "Walter Kirkeminde in a just finished unloading cargo Boeing 777 freighter to the 21st century business Herald reporter gestures, he was Federal Express (FedEx Express), Senior Manager of the operations department is responsible for sorting operations.
Is close to 1 o'clock in the morning, Memphis airport night operations have just entered the peak period, hundreds of print with orange matching purple logo of aircraft flying in from around the world. At four o'clock in the morning before dawn comes, these aircraft to remove the goods from Asia, Europe and the southern hemisphere, and then load another batch of goods left.
FedEx currently operates a fleet of a total of 643 aircraft, Memphis is the world's largest air hub. In May this year, FedEx announced the completion of the acquisition of the European express delivery giant TNT, which express the largest-ever acquisition further consolidated its status of the world's largest express delivery company.
21st century business Herald reporter in early August visit to Memphis, visit FedEx owns more of the business. In the previous fiscal year between June last year and May this year, the whole FedEx Corp. for 1.82 billion dollars (about 12.1 billion) net profit, an increase of 70%.
However, judging from the volume, FedEx package volume growth in the previous fiscal year is less than 1%, an urgent need to find new sources of growth. See promotional sales revolution all across the world in recent years, the logistics giant decided to follow new business layout--the e-commerce boom following last year's acquisition of a company to expand business, Federal Express decided to increase investment this year, before June next year as business investment of $ 600 million.
When China's express delivery companies suffer from "double 11" When package after blowing up, United States in recent years with the rise of e-commerce promotions, on past consumption are not strong holiday began to surge in package, formed a new peak period. The FedEx cargo aircraft management, ground distribution and transshipment center of Memphis operating capacity test is proposed.
"Late morning" mega-fleet
Federal Express was first started from air cargo. Starting from 1973 moved to Memphis, FedEx has been the Memphis airport as a base for their air cargo operations. The past more than 40 years, Federal Express business has been extended to five continents, but Memphis is increasing in its network.
Walter Kirkeminde told reporters, FedEx Global 99% of freight can directly access to the Memphis airport. In accordance with the FedEx fleet transporting 4 million packages a day in terms of theory Memphis airport to more than 3.9 million, the maximum amount of parcels a day.
Memphis airport is not busy during the day. But in order to enhance operational efficiency, Federal Express at the airport operation peak mainly during the night, "night flights taking off and landing at the airport in Memphis, 90% are all FedEx aircraft, day jobs that deal primarily with the postal system of the mail. ”
Key was six hours late at night. "General international flights will begin after 10 o'clock at night landing of the aircraft, the last one in place before 1:30 A.M. and then began to load and unload. Starting at 3:30 A.M. the first plane set out anew to all international aircraft will all leave before four o'clock. "Walter Kirkeminde ...
Aircraft in the airport operation time in minutes-each aircraft after landing, from the last file to remove the first interval of the boxes should not exceed 5 minutes. In the 21st century business Herald reporter to visit that night, Federal Express a total of 150 cargo planes in and out of the window period after midnight in Hong Kong, and at the busiest time, on average, every 40 seconds, landing a cargo plane.
FedEx around the world also copying this model--to establish a regional hub for routes as far as possible to the hub set, on the basis of radiation to other airports, according to the freight transport need to establish secondary cargo hub. In Asia, for example, is FedEx's Asia-Pacific hub in Guangzhou, origin and destination in Asia, to transport the goods to go to Guangzhou.
To manage 643 aircraft fleet consisting of, is not a simple task--Federal Express flights per month over 1100. Can be compared is that of South Asia's largest airlines newest fleet of 700, has been discharged into the world's top five.
FedEx Global Operations Control Center, 21st century business Herald reporter saw 24-hour real-time tracking of its global operating system. An upgraded version of PPT-like system page occupies an entire wall, each aircraft in the fleet will be determined well in advance to fly for the next half a month plan, flies the plane's presence, landing between the airport's operation and flight route by weather conditions and more information are also included.
Operation Manager of Marcus Martinez said, FedEx and even has a dedicated team of meteorologists to track global weather conditions impact on operations, including monitoring worldwide volcanic eruptions of situation. A few years ago Iceland volcano erupts blocking European route emergency, still haunted by the aviation industry.
E-commerce growth test operation
However, explosive growth in the volume of business in recent years, poses new challenges for management models in the past.
Marcus Martinez introduced before summer is not the busiest for freight transport, electrical contractor in recent years have United States labor day into new business, such as sales and volume surge caused a short time, when fleet management requires more preparation to the flight.
Federal Express a number is referred to in previous annual reports, thanks to the growth of e-commerce package, FedEx ground business in North America (FedEx Ground) average daily package volume grew to 9%. One of the most serious, FedEx had to additional 50 aircraft to absorb a surge in volume.
In accordance with the FedEx annual report cited forecasts by 2018 sales will reach $ 2.4 trillion of global e-commerce site, will also increase 26% in two years. 95% of the United States order by the Federal Express, UPS and the United States Postal Service three dealing with this.
Airport operations are facing new pressures. Memphis airport has four runways, but one control tower the air traffic control official, Memphis airport slots for 10 to 15 times a year is not enough, especially if the winter holiday traditions in the peak period, sometimes the plane is falling to the ground in waiting on the runway.
Similarly, Group Executive Vice President of global marketing and Media Affairs Rui Sibo (Raj Subramaniam) says to FedEx's strategy is to continuously strengthen the cargo capacity of the orders (Inbound Shipping) and after delivery and distribution capacity (Outward Delivery) in order to enhance the core competitiveness of FedEx.
In the past year, Federal Express has invested $ 1.6 billion in the United States throughout the construction of three large automated sorting hub, as well as 19 automatic sorting station, enhanced sorting capability as possible.
In China, FedEx, based on the existing Asia-Pacific transshipment center in Guangzhou, also invested $ 100 million to build in Shanghai International Express mail and air cargo centre, plans to put into operation next year.
In distribution, troubled e-commerce is another major problem for the development of return, due to the return of cost ratio is very high. FedEx Corp. is responsible for integrated marketing and Media Affairs Senior Vice President Patrick Fitzgerald revealed, United States some of the highest rates of return can be 30%, so very high demands on the express logistics.
In order to solve this problem, Federal Express at the end of last year has even spent $ 1.4 billion acquisition of a processing returns of third-party logistics company GENCO, which handle returned products reach more than 600 million pieces each year.
And domestic express companies preparing for "double 11", in response to the surge in volume of five black and Christmas, FedEx also takes a year to prepare. To this end, Federal Express will increase by $ 800 million investment this year.
Acquisition of TNT take top spot
In addition to benefiting from United States territory outside the Delta, FedEx in the intensified competition for cross-border e-commerce layout bonus.
2014 years FedEx has spent more than 40 million dollars to buy Bongo International, the company now renamed FedEx CrossBorder, whose business is primarily an international procurement businessmen to provide full customs clearance and distribution services, has begun this year to China and Japan market expansion.
Eddy Chan, President of FedEx China on the 21st century business Herald said, more and more choice of Chinese enterprises particularly small and medium enterprises in accordance with market demand abroad, the trend in the last five or six years gradually clear. Such enterprises with limited resources, more resources focused on market development and team-building, and therefore more dependent on logistics services.
Under the influence of economic situation deteriorated, the courier is looking at cross-border e-commerce. DHL and UPS have acquired in 2014 for the cross-border provision of services by companies, and four-way dashunfeng the past two years are also stepping up the layout.
But all acquisitions than the first half of this year before a deal is more interesting-the Chinese Ministry of Commerce in April this year after the last release, FedEx finally formally announced on May 25 this year completed the acquisition of the headquarters is located in the Netherlands, TNT Express, the $ 4.8 billion deal was finally settled.
This is FedEx's biggest acquisition in the history, but also express industry's biggest merger in history. In an interview with reporters, said Rui Sibo, TNT has strong ground network in Europe, the acquisition can be with FedEx's air transport network between the continents together.
Win after TNT global express delivery industry into "Tripod", FedEx's operating scale to further increase. According to its earnings statement, after including TNT, on the air cargo market, FedEx dominates the first in the North American market, in Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America came in after DHL.
But the two sides to complete integration will take time. Rui Sibo introduced currently two brands remain independent in order to maintain their operational stability, and do not want any negative impact on the integration process. According to the plan, TNT's performance in fiscal 2018, which will be absorbed by FedEx's report until after June next year.
FedEx group as a whole $ 3.077 billion operating profit last year, Federal Express (FedEx Express) while revenues fell, but operating profit was still more than $ 2.5 billion, up sharply increased by more than 900 million.
This in addition to the sharp drop in fuel costs as well as the United States market increase of outside help, there are FedEx adjust the presence of factors. At the same time kept to invest in e-commerce, FedEx shipping service to higher value-added goods more resources, for greater space for development for the future.
探营联邦快递：全球最大快递，共有643架飞机 - 联邦快递,快递 - IT资讯
每年旅客不到四百万的孟菲斯机场，从来不是中国游客造访美国的首选地。但大多数人不知道的是，这里是全球数一数二繁忙的航空货运枢纽。
“同一天上晚班的最多大概有10万员工，相当于田纳西州第五大城市的人口。”Walter Kirkeminde站在一架刚刚卸完货的波音777货机旁向21世纪经济报道记者比划，他是联邦快递（FedEx Express）运营部负责分拣业务的高级经理。
此时已经接近凌晨1点，孟菲斯机场的夜间作业刚刚进入高峰期，上百架印着橙配紫logo的飞机正从全球各地飞来。在凌晨四点黎明尚未到来之前，这批飞机要卸下从亚洲、欧洲和南半球来的货物，然后再装载另一批货物离开。
联邦快递目前运营的机队共有643架飞机，孟菲斯是其全球最大的转运中心。今年5月，联邦快递宣布完成收购欧洲快递业巨头TNT，这笔快递业史上最大的收购交易进一步稳固了其全球最大快递公司的地位。
21世纪经济报道记者于8月初到访孟菲斯，探访了联邦快递旗下多项业务。在去年6月至今年5月的上一个财年内，整个联邦快递集团实现了18.2亿美元（约合121亿人民币）的净利润，同比增长了七成。
不过从运量来看，联邦快递上一个财年的包裹量增幅不到1%，急需寻找新的增长点。眼看近年来电商促销在全球掀起销售革命，这家物流巨头决定将追随电商热潮进行新的业务布局——继去年收购了一家公司拓展电商业务，联邦快递今年决定继续加大投入，到明年6月前将再为电商业务投入6亿美元。
当中国的快递公司苦于“双11”后的包裹爆仓时，美国近年来随着电商促销的兴起，一些以往消费并不旺盛的节假日也开始出现包裹激增，形成了新的货运高峰期。这些对联邦快递的货航机队管理、地面配送以及孟菲斯转运中心运营能力都提出了考验。
“晚归早出”的巨型机队
联邦快递最早是从航空货运起家。从1973年搬迁至孟菲斯开始，联邦快递就一直将孟菲斯机场视为其航空货运业务的基地。过去四十多年来，联邦快递的业务已经拓展至全球五大洲，然而孟菲斯在其运营网络中的地位却有增无减。
Walter Kirkeminde向记者介绍，联邦快递全球99%的货运都能直接通达孟菲斯机场。按照联邦快递的机队每天运送400万个包裹量计算，理论上孟菲斯机场一天的最大包裹量就能到390万以上。
孟菲斯机场白天并不算繁忙。但为了提升运营效率，联邦快递在机场的运营高峰主要放在夜间，“孟菲斯机场夜间起降的航班中，九成以上都是联邦快递的飞机，白天的作业则主要是处理邮政系统的邮件。”
夜间最为关键的又是后半夜的六小时。“一般国际航线的飞机会在深夜十点以后开始落地，最后一架在凌晨一点半之前到位，然后开始装卸。从凌晨三点半开始第一架飞机就重新出发，到四点前所有国际飞机都会全部离开。”Walter Kirkeminde介绍。
飞机在机场运营的时间单位以分计算——每架飞机落地后，从上轮档到卸下第一个箱子的间隔不能超过5分钟。在21世纪经济报道记者参观当晚，联邦快递共有150架货机要在后半夜的窗口期内完成进出港，而在最繁忙的时候，平均每40秒就有一架货机降落。
联邦快递在全球各地也复制了这一模式——先建立一个区域性的枢纽，航线尽可能向枢纽集中，在此基础上再向其他机场辐射，根据货运需要再建立次一级的货运中心。比如在亚洲，广州就是联邦快递的亚太区转运中心，始发地和目的地在亚洲的货物都会去广州进行转运。
要对643架飞机构成的机队进行管理，并不是一个简单的任务——联邦快递每个月的航班量超过1100个。可作对比的是，亚洲最大的南航最新机队规模为700架，已经排进全球前五。
在联邦快递的全球运营控制中心，21世纪经济报道记者看到了二十四小时实时跟踪其全球飞机运营情况的系统。一个像升级版PPT的系统页面占据了一整面墙，机队里的每架飞机都会提前确定好接下来半个月的执飞计划，执飞飞机的状态、起降两地机场的运行以及航班所经航路的天气情况等等信息也都包含其中。
运营控制事务总经理Marcus Martinez说，联邦快递甚至有专门的气象学家团队跟踪全球的天气情况对运营的影响，包括能监控全球火山喷发的情况。几年前冰岛火山喷发阻断欧洲航路的突发状况，至今仍让航空业心有余悸。
电商增长考验运营
不过近年电商货量出现爆发式的增长，给以往的管理模式提出了新的挑战。
Marcus Martinez介绍，以前夏季并不是货运的繁忙期，最近几年电商已经将美国劳动节等培育成新的电商促销季，造成短时间内货量激增，这要求在进行机队管理时要对航班有更多的准备。
联邦快递上一份年报提到的一个数字是，得益于电商包裹的增长，联邦快递北美地面业务（FedEx Ground）的日均包裹总量年增长达到9%。最严重的一次，联邦快递不得不增调50架飞机来消化激增的货量。
而按照联邦快递年报引用的预测，到2018年全球电商网站的销售额将达到2.4万亿美元，两年内还将增长26%。其中95%的美国电商订单由联邦快递、UPS和美国邮政三家承担处理。
机场运营也面临新的压力。孟菲斯机场共有四条跑道，然而一位负责塔台空管的负责人介绍，孟菲斯机场一年会发生10到15次机位不够用的情况，尤其遇到冬季节日的传统货运高峰期，有时飞机只能落到地面在跑道上排队等待。
同样，集团层面全球市场营销和传媒事务的执行副总裁芮思博（Raj Subramaniam）表示，对此联邦快递提出的应对策略是不断强化下单后的接货能力（Inbound Shipping）和发货后的配送能力（Outward Delivery），以增强联邦快递的核心竞争力。
在过去一年内，联邦快递投资了16亿美元在美国全境建设了三个大的自动化分拣枢纽，以及19个自动化分拣站，尽可能强化分拣能力。
在中国，联邦快递在现有的广州亚太区转运中心的基础上，也在上海投资了1亿美元建设国际快件和货运中心，计划明年投运。
在配送环节，困扰电商发展的另一大问题是退货，因退货产生的成本占比很高。联邦快递集团负责综合市场营销和传媒事务的高级副总裁Patrick Fitzgerald透露，美国一些电商的退换率最高可以达到30%，因此对快递物流环节提出了很高的要求。
为了解决这一问题，联邦快递在去年年底甚至专门花了14亿美元收购了一家处理电商退换货的第三方物流公司GENCO，这家公司每年处理的退回产品达到6亿件以上。
和国内快递公司备战“双11”一样，为了应对黑五和圣诞节期间的货量激增，联邦快递也要花上一年的时间进行准备。为此，联邦快递今年提出将增加8亿美元的投入。
收购TNT稳坐头号交椅
除了受惠于美国境内的电商增量外，联邦快递也在加紧布局争夺跨境电商的红利。
联邦快递2014年花了四千多万美元收购了Bongo International，这家公司如今已经重新命名为FedEx CrossBorder，其业务主要是向进行国际采购的商家提供全程报关和配送服务，今年已经开始向中国和日本市场拓展。
联邦快递中国区总裁陈嘉良此前对21世纪经济报道记者表示，越来越多中国企业尤其中小型的企业根据市场需求选择了跨国发展，这一趋势于最近五六年逐渐明显。这类企业资源有限，资源更多集中在市场开拓和团队建设上，因此对物流服务更有依赖性。
受到经济形势下滑的影响，各家快递都把目光投向跨境电商。DHL和UPS都在2014年收购了针对跨境电商提供服务的公司，而国内的四通一达顺丰等近两年也都在加紧布局。
但之前的所有收购都比不上今年上半年的一笔交易来得更引人关注——在得到中国商务部今年4月最后一个放行后，联邦快递终于在今年5月25日正式宣布完成收购总部位于荷兰的TNT快递，这笔48亿美元的交易终于尘埃落定。
这是联邦快递史上最大的一笔并购，也是整个快递业历史上最大的一笔并购。在接受记者采访时，芮思博表示，TNT在欧洲有强大的地面网络，这笔收购可以将其与联邦快递在各大洲之间的空运网络优势结合在一起。
在拿下TNT之后，全球快递业格局变为“三足鼎立”，联邦快递的运营规模优势进一步提升。根据其财报的表述，算上TNT之后，在航空货运市场上，联邦快递在北美市场稳坐第一，在欧洲、亚太和拉美排在DHL之后。
不过双方要完成整合还尚需时日。芮思博介绍，目前两个品牌仍然独立，目的是维持各自运营稳定，不希望在整合过程中带来任何负面影响。按照计划，TNT的业绩将在2018财年，也就是明年6月以后才会并入联邦快递的报表。
整个联邦快递集团去年实现了30.77亿美元的经营利润，其中联邦快递（FedEx Express）虽然收入有所下滑，但经营利润仍然超过25亿美元，同比大幅增加了9个多亿。
这当中除了燃油成本大幅下降以及美国市场增量的帮助外，也有联邦快递调整业务布局的因素。在保持对电商进行投入的同时，联邦快递也在向货品附加值更高的运送服务倾斜更多的资源，为未来争取更大的发展空间。