Overview
- UPS disclosed in its Q4 2025 report that the MD-11 retirement was completed last quarter and resulted in a $137 million non-cash, after-tax charge.
- Company leaders said the trijets represented roughly 9% of UPS’s fleet, and capacity is being rebuilt with about 18 new Boeing 767 freighters due over the next 15 months.
- UPS confirmed it will not return the MD-11 to service even if regulators eventually approve the type to fly again.
- The FAA continues its grounding of MD-11s as the NTSB probes fatigue cracking in the engine-mount bearing race identified on the crash aircraft and reviews earlier Boeing service guidance.
- Other operators’ MD-11s remain parked, with FedEx saying it is working with Boeing and the FAA toward a possible return to service by May 31.