FedEx Readies for the Holiday Season

MEMPHIS, Tenn.-- FedEx Corp. expects to move more than 50 million packages through the global FedEx Express, FedEx Ground and FedEx Freight networks during the week of December 14, 2009, its busiest week of the year.

On December 14 alone, FedEx expects to ship more than 13 million shipments, up from 12 million packages on last year's busiest day of December 15, 2008. On average, more than 7.5 million packages move through the FedEx systems daily.

The cornerstone of our success at FedEx is our 275,000 team members who work tirelessly to make every FedEx experience outstanding, said Frederick W. Smith, chairman, president and CEO of FedEx Corp. As our team members deliver the holidays, they provide our customers the reliability of our unmatched global networks backed by the broadest range of shipping solutions available to suit their needs.

The FedEx family of companies is gearing up to deliver for millions of FedEx customers during the holiday season. From the overnight promise of FedEx Express, the cost-saving options of FedEx Ground, the Pack & Ship solutions from FedEx Office and more, customers can count on FedEx to deliver the holidays.

Continuing the growth of earlier trends, Forrester Research, Inc. is projecting an 8 percent increase in online holiday sales compared with 2008, sending expectations for online spending to $44.7 billion. The study further found that 42 percent of consumers will be motivated by shipping offers to buy more online this year than in the past. As always, online retailers and consumers can rest easy in their online purchasing plans by relying on the suite of FedEx solutions offered through the holidays and beyond.

Need it there fast? Ship FedEx Express

FedEx Express is the world's largest express transportation company, providing fast and reliable delivery to every address in the United States and to more than 220 countries and territories across the globe. Customers can choose from same day services to a variety of guaranteed, overnight shipping options and other solutions to get their important holiday shipments where they need to be, when they need to be there.

The company offers a wide range of shipping services for the delivery of small packages weighing up to 150 pounds with express delivery in one to three business days within the continental U.S.

Internationally, FedEx Express has unmatched air route authorities and an extensive air and ground network, providing customs-cleared, door-to-door service to more international locations than any other express transportation company. This translates into unparalleled global access for customers, whether shipping gifts home to Denver or importing electronics from China to stock the shelves for last-minute holiday sales.

Looking for more options? Ship FedEx Ground

FedEx Ground specializes in cost-effective, small-package shipping, offering dependable business-to-business delivery or convenient residential service through FedEx Home Delivery and FedEx SmartPost.

The company continues to expand its nationwide network resulting in faster money back-guaranteed service delivery for customers, an acceleration of one business day or more in half of the U.S. FedEx Ground also now delivers more than 50 percent of packages in two business days or fewer and more than 80 percent of packages in three business days or fewer. FedEx Ground is also faster to more locations in the U.S. than UPS Ground.

Essential for the busy holiday season, FedEx Home Delivery, the first residential-only delivery service of its kind, provides shippers with convenient evening delivery to 8 p.m. and is the only service which delivers on Saturdays as standard. FedEx Home Delivery also offers three premium services upgrades including Appointment Delivery which provides delivery within a two-hour window, Evening Delivery providing delivery between 5 and 8 p.m. and Date Certain Delivery for delivery on a specific date.

FedEx SmartPost, a part of the FedEx Ground network of services, is the ideal solution for online retailers and cataloguers who ship high volumes of lighter shipments to residential customers. FedEx SmartPost offers a completely integrated national service with pickup, sorting and delivery of packages directly to U.S. Postal Service facilities for final delivery to residences.

Need help with your package? Visit FedEx Office

FedEx Office locations worldwide provide busy customers one-stop convenience for shipping and shopping needs during the holidays and throughout the year.

Customers can rely on the professionals this holiday season by using the convenient Pack & Ship solution offered at more than 1,800 FedEx Office locations in the U.S. Team members are specially trained in packaging and shipping techniques to help every package arrive safely. FedEx Office also offers an array of do-it-yourself shipping supplies for holiday packaging and shipping needs.

In addition, the newly-launched FedEx Office Design & Print Center -- available in-stores and online -- is a great tool for customers looking to quickly and conveniently customize seasonal stationery, cards and calendars for a personal touch.

FedEx Office Print Online provides another added convenience for busy customers this holiday season. With this tool, customers can print directly from their computers to the nearest center, uploading everything from holiday newsletters to seasonal marketing materials. FedEx Office has more experience with Web-based printing than any other national retailer.

Other FedEx Office services include copying and digital printing, professional finishing, document creation, direct mail, signs and graphics, Internet access, computer rental, FedEx Express and FedEx Ground shipping, and more.

Stocking your shelves? Ship FedEx Freight

FedEx Freight provides next-business-day and second-business-day less-than-truckload (LTL) service for companies operating fast-cycle logistics. As the first LTL provider to offer 10:30 a.m. delivery backed by a money-back guarantee, customers can count on FedEx Freight to stock their shelves for the holidays.

FedEx Freight offers full-state coverage throughout the U.S. (including Alaska and Hawaii) and international service to Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia.

The company continues to improve its network for customers, reducing transit times for customers in more than 3,000 lanes in 2008.

Really in a bind? Call FedEx Custom Critical

FedEx Custom Critical provides the fastest, door-to-door same-day and next-day delivery of urgent freight, valuable items and hazardous goods. FedEx Custom Critical provides 24/7 service, utilizing its service fleet for ground-expedited service and providing an array of air options.

About FedEx Corp.

FedEx Corp. provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $34 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world's most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 275,000 team members to remain absolutely, positively focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. For more information, visit news.fedex.com.

Certain statements in this press release may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to future events and financial performance. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those contemplated (expressed or implied) by such forward-looking statements, because of, among other things, economic conditions in the global markets in which we operate, the impact of any international conflicts or terrorist activities, disruptions to the Internet or our technology infrastructure, the impact of changes in fuel prices and foreign currency exchange rates and adverse weather conditions or natural disasters, as well as the other risks and uncertainties you can find in FedEx's and its subsidiaries' press releases and SEC filings, including the risk factors in FedEx's most recent annual report on Form 10-K, as updated by FedEx's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.