FedEx is set to launch a dedicated air cargo route later this month linking Dublin, Ireland (DUB) with Indianapolis (IND), Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer Brie Carere announced during a September 18 earnings call.
The new service will primarily transport healthcare shipments, alongside other high-value verticals moving between Ireland and the U.S. Carere noted the direct route is expected to reduce transport times by one day compared with current options.
Healthcare logistics has become a major growth driver for FedEx, contributing $9 billion in revenue in FY 2025. “Almost 50% of the weight growth from a U.S. export perspective came from health care, airfreight, so our healthcare strategy is working there, too,” Carere said.
FedEx has expanded its pharmaceutical handling capabilities with CEIV Pharma certifications across key hubs, including Indianapolis and Memphis since 2024, and extended the certification to facilities in North Carolina, Texas, California, Florida, and New Jersey earlier this year. These moves have supported over $500 million in new healthcare quality agreements in FY 2024.
The DUB–IND route builds on the carrier’s broader initiatives under its Network 2.0, DRIVE, and Tricolor programs aimed at strengthening its healthcare and high-value cargo networks.
FedEx faces strong competition in this sector, with DHL already operating temperature-controlled services from Indianapolis for clients such as Siemens and Eli Lilly, while UPS has publicly set a goal to double its healthcare revenue by 2026.
