You’ve Got (More) Mail: UPS Adds Flights, Bigger Planes
Carrier now flying mail five days a week on giant MD-11 in latest boost to airport’s e-commerce growth
By Evan Dougherty
Published August 19, 2024
Read Time: 4 mins
One of the largest aircraft in the UPS fleet is becoming a more routine visitor at Pittsburgh International Airport.
In July, UPS upgraded its daytime flight operations between Pittsburgh and Louisville to the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 widebody freighter. In addition, the cargo carrier increased its daytime flight to five times weekly, up from four times, adding a Sunday flight to its original Tuesday through Friday schedule.
The additional service comes after UPS secured a multi-year contract with the United States Postal Service (USPS) in April, greatly expanding the existing partnership with the two organizations. Following a transition period, UPS will become the primary air cargo provider for USPS and will transport the majority of USPS air cargo throughout the United States.
USPS previously partnered with FedEx as the primary carrier for air cargo mail, an arrangement that had lasted for more than two decades.
To accommodate the incoming mail volume, UPS is dramatically increasing flight operations and adding more daytime flights to its network. In addition, the carrier is hiring more than 300 pilots to staff the increase in flying, as reported by cargo industry site FreightWaves.
“Together UPS and USPS have developed an innovative solution that is mutually beneficial and complements our unique, reliable and efficient integrated network,” UPS CEO Carol B. Tomé said on April 5.
UPS aircraft sit parked on the Cargo 3 ramp at PIT on July 12, 2024. (Photo by Evan Dougherty)