FedEx has informed equine air transport companies that it will halt all US horse shipments until January. The pause follows the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s grounding of every MD-11 cargo aircraft for inspection and repair after a fatal crash involving a UPS-operated MD-11 in Louisville on Nov. 4. The investigation into that incident, which resulted in 14 deaths, is still ongoing.
FedEx is the sole provider of equine air transport in the U.S. since Tex Sutton Equine Air Transportation’s dedicated aircraft was removed from service in May 2021. Around 10 equine shipping agencies arrange bookings on FedEx flights. With MD-11s offline, cargo space is extremely limited as horse stalls take up substantial room whether occupied or empty, and moving them around the country strains available capacity.
Ordinarily, FedEx halts most horse flights from mid-December through early January to manage holiday package volume. This year’s earlier-than-normal shutdown will disrupt multiple scheduled moves for racehorses, including those headed to Del Mar for the upcoming Turf Festival. This development is also affecting show horses travelling to West Coast horse shows such as Desert International Horse Park, or east to Wellington in Florida. Equine travel agents report that FedEx is still evaluating whether a few remaining trips can be salvaged, but for now the process is largely frozen.
The duration of the FAA’s inspections remains uncertain. If MD-11s remain grounded into the new year, some agents believe FedEx may still be able to maintain at least one major route for horses between New York and California, calling it the most practical option under the circumstances.
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