Memphis International Airport has been renamed in honor of FedEx founder Frederick W. Smith.

The true impact of a business is measured not only by its achievements and numbers, but also by milestones that allow us to look back at the journey and see how an idea conceived decades ago evolved into a system with global influence.

On August 11, 2026, an important event took place in Memphis, Tennessee, that will hold a special place in FedEx history. The city's international airport was renamed Frederick W. Smith International Airport in honor of Federal Express founder Frederick W. Smith, whose vision and entrepreneurial initiative transformed Memphis into one of the world's most important air cargo hubs.

In 1973, Frederick W. Smith founded Federal Express in Memphis. The choice of the city was not accidental: its central location in the United States and favorable weather conditions made Memphis an ideal location for building a system based on fast air delivery.

On its first day of operations, Federal Express used 14 Dassault Falcon aircraft to transport 186 packages to 25 U.S. cities. Today, the scale is dramatically different. FedEx moves more than 18 million packages around the world every day, while the Memphis World Hub processes more than 2.4 million packages daily.

Why Memphis?

Frederick W. Smith's connection to Memphis went far deeper.

For Smith, Memphis was not simply a strategic choice. In addition to its advantageous geographic location and favorable weather conditions, it was his hometown — a city whose economic development and future were particularly important to him.

Over the years, cooperation between FedEx, the airport, and the city created an environment where aviation, logistics, jobs, and international trade became closely interconnected. The airport's renaming reflects a history shaped over decades through the close partnership between the city, the airport, and FedEx.

Boeing 777

One of the most impressive moments of August 11, 2026, was the arrival of FedEx Flight 1944, operated by a Boeing 777 freighter.

The aircraft featured a special retro livery inspired by the original Federal Express brand identity. The aircraft is named Rosie, after one of Frederick W. Smith's granddaughters.

Every detail was carefully considered, and even the flight number was chosen for a reason: 1944 is the year Frederick W. Smith was born.

One of the most important connections in this story is that, although technologies, aircraft, and the scale of operations have changed over the years, the core idea behind the business has remained the same: connecting people, businesses, and markets quickly and reliably.

That is why the retro-designed Boeing 777 is more than a tribute to the past. It is a symbol of the enduring nature of the idea on which the company was built.

FWS Day of Service

The event also marked the launch of the first FWS Day of Service, dedicated to Frederick W. Smith's commitment to community engagement. It is part of Purple Week / FedEx Cares, FedEx's global initiative built around the company's People-Service-Profit culture.

As part of this year's program, more than 120 FedEx Cares volunteer and community initiatives are taking place across countries around the world.

For Transimpex, this event also holds special significance. As the official FedEx representative in the Republic of Armenia, we are proud to have been part of this story for nearly 26 years — continuing FedEx's global mission in Armenia and strengthening the connections between Armenia and the rest of the world through our work.