Federal Express Begins Overnight Service

Federal Express proved that one central hub could deliver packages overnight across the country, the model behind today's next-day and two-day air networks. Founder Fred Smith routed every package through Memphis each night, where it was sorted and flown back out, so any two cities on the network were one stop apart. The business lost money at first, but it grew quickly after air cargo deregulation in 1977 let it fly larger jets. When a brand promises next-day delivery or chooses an air service level at checkout, it relies on the hub-and-spoke sorting that Federal Express made routine.

• Delivery PromiseDelivery date shown to the shopper
• Cutoff TimeLast order time for same-day shipping
• Time in TransitBusiness days from first scan to delivery

• Fred Smith1944–2025 · Founder of FedEx

• U.S. Air Mail Service1918 · The first scheduled airmail route opens in the US
• UPS Next Day Air1982 · UPS adds guaranteed overnight delivery
• FedEx Acquires Flying Tiger Line1989 · FedEx buys an air cargo line and its global routes

• Air Cargo Deregulation Act of 19771977 · Freed US domestic air cargo routes and rates

1. FedEx marks 40th anniversary (FedEx Newsroom) newsroom.fedex.com
2. FedEx: 50 years of operations (Airways Magazine) airwaysmag.com