UPS Airlines

UPS Airlines is a major American cargo airline based in Louisville, Kentucky. One of the largest cargo airlines worldwide in terms of freight volume flown, UPS Airlines flies to 815 destinations worldwide. It has been a wholly owned subsidiary of United Parcel Service since its launch in 1988. Like passenger airlines, UPS Airlines operates under the hub-and-spoke model. Its primary hub in the United States is at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, where it built a 5,200,000 square foot facility called UPS Worldport. UPS also has secondary hubs across the United States and international hubs in Canada, China, England, Germany, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico. The pilots of UPS Airlines are represented by the Independent Pilots Association.

Infobox

IATA

IATA ICAO Call sign 5X UPS UPS

Founded

July 13, 1988 (1988-07-13)

AOC #

IPXA097B

Hubs

Worldport Louisville United States Anchorage Columbia (SC) Chicago–Rockford Dallas/Fort Worth Miami Ontario (CA) Philadelphia Seattle–Boeing International hubs Clark Cologne/Bonn East Midlands Istanbul Hamilton (ON) Hong Kong Kuala Lumpur–International San Juan Shanghai–Pudong Shenzhen

Fleet size

264

Destinations

815 (400 domestic, 415 international)

Parent company

United Parcel Service, Inc.

Headquarters

Louisville, Kentucky, US

Key people

Jim Joseph (President)

Employees

26,328

Website

www

Tables

UPS Airlines fleet · Fleet › Current fleet

Airbus A300-600RF

Aircraft

Airbus A300-600RF

In service

Orders

—

Notes

Retrofitted with new flight-deck avionics. Older aircraft to be retired.

Boeing 747-400F

Aircraft

Boeing 747-400F

In service

Orders

—

Boeing 747-400BCF

Aircraft

Boeing 747-400BCF

In service

Orders

—

Boeing 747-8F

Aircraft

Boeing 747-8F

In service

Orders

—

Notes

Largest operator.

Boeing 757-200PF

Aircraft

Boeing 757-200PF

In service

Orders

—

Notes

Launch customer.

Boeing 767-300F

Aircraft

Boeing 767-300F

In service

Orders

Notes

Launch customer. Deliveries until 2027.

Total

Aircraft

Total

In service

269

Orders

Aircraft	In service	Orders	Notes
Airbus A300-600RF	52	—	Retrofitted with new flight-deck avionics. Older aircraft to be retired.
Boeing 747-400F	11	—
Boeing 747-400BCF	2	—
Boeing 747-8F	30	—	Largest operator.
Boeing 757-200PF	75	—	Launch customer.
Boeing 767-300F	99	10	Launch customer. Deliveries until 2027.
Total	269	10

· Fleet › Historical fleet

Boeing 727-100/QF

Aircraft

Boeing 727-100/QF

Total

Introduced

1991

Retired

2007

Replaced by

Boeing 757-200PF

Remarks

Last commercial flight was in August 2007.

Boeing 727-200C/QC

Aircraft

Boeing 727-200C/QC

Total

Introduced

1988

Boeing 747-100F

Aircraft

Boeing 747-100F

Total

Introduced

1971

Retired

2008

Replaced by

Boeing 747-400F McDonnell Douglas MD-11F

Boeing 747-200F

Aircraft

Boeing 747-200F

Total

Introduced

1971

Retired

2009

Replaced by

Boeing 747-400F McDonnell Douglas MD-11F

Remarks

UPS received its first of its type on January 15, 1971.

Douglas DC-8-60F/70F

Aircraft

Douglas DC-8-60F/70F

Total

Introduced

1959

Retired

2009

Replaced by

Boeing 747-400F Boeing 757-200PF McDonnell Douglas MD-11F

Remarks

Last commercial flight was on May 11, 2009. One destroyed by fire as Flight 1307.

McDonnell Douglas MD-11F

Aircraft

McDonnell Douglas MD-11F

Total

Introduced

2001

Retired

2025

Replaced by

Boeing 767-300F

Remarks

All grounded after the crash of Flight 2976 and subsequently retired.

Aircraft	Total	Introduced	Retired	Replaced by	Remarks
Boeing 727-100/QF	51	1991	2007	Boeing 757-200PF	Last commercial flight was in August 2007.
Boeing 727-200C/QC	8	1988	2007	Boeing 757-200PF	Last commercial flight was in August 2007.
Boeing 747-100F	10	1971	2008	Boeing 747-400F McDonnell Douglas MD-11F
Boeing 747-200F	8	1971	2009	Boeing 747-400F McDonnell Douglas MD-11F	UPS received its first of its type on January 15, 1971.
Douglas DC-8-60F/70F	53	1959	2009	Boeing 747-400F Boeing 757-200PF McDonnell Douglas MD-11F	Last commercial flight was on May 11, 2009. One destroyed by fire as Flight 1307.
McDonnell Douglas MD-11F	29	2001	2025	Boeing 767-300F	All grounded after the crash of Flight 2976 and subsequently retired.

· Accidents and incidents

1307

Flight number

1307

Date

February 7, 2006

Registration

N748UP

Aircraft type

Douglas DC-8-71F

Fatalities/Occupants

0/3

Notes

Destroyed by fire at Philadelphia International Airport. Just before landing, on a flight from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the crew reported a smoke detector activated in the cargo hold. After landing, the cargo hold of the aircraft caught fire. The source of the fire was never found.

Flight number

Date

September 3, 2010

Registration

N571UP

Aircraft type

Boeing 747-44AF

Fatalities/Occupants

2/2

Notes

Crashed near the Dubai Silicon Oasis at approximately 7:45 p . local time after declaring an emergency fifty minutes after takeoff due to fire in main cargo hold. Both crew members were killed, the first such casualties in UPS Airlines' history. NTSB reports the fire was started from the combustion of lithium-ion batteries on the main cargo deck,

1354

Flight number

1354

Date

August 14, 2013

Registration

N155UP

Aircraft type

Airbus A300F4-622R

Fatalities/Occupants

2/2

Notes

Crashed in an open field on approach to Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport in Birmingham, Alabama, killing both the captain and first officer. NTSB report cites pilot error as cause to the crash. Neither crew member had received adequate rest before the flight and missed a step in programing the FMC for the approach to the runway.

Flight number

Date

June 6, 2016

Registration

N277UP

Aircraft type

McDonnell Douglas MD-11F

Fatalities/Occupants

0/4

Notes

Suffered a runway excursion and nose gear collapse in a takeoff accident at Seoul-Incheon International Airport (ICN). Takeoff from runway 33L was aborted and the aircraft continued past the end of the runway. The nose gear collapsed and the no. 1 and 3 engines contacted the grass. The flight was bound for Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airpor

2976

Flight number

2976

Date

November 4, 2025

Registration

N259UP

Aircraft type

McDonnell Douglas MD-11F

Fatalities/Occupants

3/3, plus 12 ground fatalities

Notes

Crashed on takeoff on November 4, 2025, at approximately 5:13 p . local time due to a separation of the number one (left) engine during the takeoff roll and subsequent inability to gain altitude. The crash occurred about half a mile south of Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.

Flight number	Date	Registration	Aircraft type	Fatalities/Occupants	Notes	Ref.
1307	February 7, 2006	N748UP	Douglas DC-8-71F	0/3	Destroyed by fire at Philadelphia International Airport. Just before landing, on a flight from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the crew reported a smoke detector activated in the cargo hold. After landing, the cargo hold of the aircraft caught fire. The source of the fire was never found.
6	September 3, 2010	N571UP	Boeing 747-44AF	2/2	Crashed near the Dubai Silicon Oasis at approximately 7:45 p . local time after declaring an emergency fifty minutes after takeoff due to fire in main cargo hold. Both crew members were killed, the first such casualties in UPS Airlines' history. NTSB reports the fire was started from the combustion of lithium-ion batteries on the main cargo deck,
1354	August 14, 2013	N155UP	Airbus A300F4-622R	2/2	Crashed in an open field on approach to Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport in Birmingham, Alabama, killing both the captain and first officer. NTSB report cites pilot error as cause to the crash. Neither crew member had received adequate rest before the flight and missed a step in programing the FMC for the approach to the runway.
61	June 6, 2016	N277UP	McDonnell Douglas MD-11F	0/4	Suffered a runway excursion and nose gear collapse in a takeoff accident at Seoul-Incheon International Airport (ICN). Takeoff from runway 33L was aborted and the aircraft continued past the end of the runway. The nose gear collapsed and the no. 1 and 3 engines contacted the grass. The flight was bound for Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airpor
2976	November 4, 2025	N259UP	McDonnell Douglas MD-11F	3/3, plus 12 ground fatalities	Crashed on takeoff on November 4, 2025, at approximately 5:13 p . local time due to a separation of the number one (left) engine during the takeoff roll and subsequent inability to gain altitude. The crash occurred about half a mile south of Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport.

References

av-info
https://av-info.faa.gov/detail.asp?DSGN_CODE=IPXA&OPER_FAR=121&OPER_NAME=UNITED+PARCEL+SERVICE+CO
finance
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ups-expands-asia-hub-clark-133600732.html#:~:text=UPS%20Expands%20in%20Asia%20With%20Hub%20at%20Clark%20Airport%20in%20the%20Philippines
igairport
https://www.igairport.aero/en/aviation/cargo-and-logistics-center/cargo-and-lojistics/
"UPS Air Operations Facts - UPS Pressroom"
https://web.archive.org/web/20150512180724/http://www.pressroom.ups.com/Fact+Sheets/UPS+Air+Operations+Facts
"Welcome to UPS Malaysia"
https://www.ups.com/content/my/en/index.jsx?WT.svl=BrndMrk
"UPS and Shanghai Announce First-Ever U . Air Hub in China"
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20070412005097/en/UPS-Shanghai-Announce-First-Ever-U.S.-Air-Hub
"UPS launches Shenzhen flights"
https://web.archive.org/web/20110724142633/http://www.ups.com/content/cn/en/about/news/press_releases/02_08_2010_CN.html
"fact sheets"
https://web.archive.org/web/20240130234051/https://about.ups.com/content/dam/upsstories/assets/fact-sheets/airlines-fact-sheets/Air%20Operations%20Facts_06302023.pdf
"Special Delivery: UPS Moving Ancient Terra Cotta Army." United Parcel Service. May 5, 2008. Retrieved on June 19, 2010.
http://www.pressroom.ups.com/Press+Releases/Archive/2008/Q2/Special+Delivery%3A+UPS+Moving+Ancient+Terra+Cotta+Army
UPS Pressroom
https://www.pressroom.ups.com/pressroom/ContentDetailsViewer.page?ConceptType=FactSheets&id=1426321563187-193
AeroSavvy
https://aerosavvy.com/ups-worldport/
"1918 - UPS Pressroom"
https://web.archive.org/web/20120519092716/http://www.pressroom.ups.com/About+UPS/Company+History/1918
"1975 - UPS Pressroom"
https://web.archive.org/web/20120518052324/http://www.pressroom.ups.com/About+UPS/Company+History/1975
"Stan's WIngs | U | United Parcel Service Captain's Hat Badge (1st issue)"
https://web.archive.org/web/20141120073521/http://www.stanwing.com/United%20Parcel_01-Service%20Captain%20Hat%20Badge%201st%20Issue
www
https://web.archive.org/web/20141004173446/http://www.dudesdownunder.com/orionair.html
"UPS Timeline"
https://web.archive.org/web/20090705142815/http://pressroom.ups.com/Fact+Sheets/UPS+Timeline
www
http://www.inboundlogistics.com/cms/article/cargo-crossroads-of-the-world-alaska/
USA Today
https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/todayinthesky/2016/12/09/anchorage-airport-swarms-presents-jumbo-jets-holidays-near/95139702/
Louisville Courier-Journal
https://www.newspapers.com/image/109871047
Aviation Week and Space Technology
https://archive.aviationweek.com/issue/19881003