FedEx Express, the world’s largest express transportation company and a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX), announced today that its new international gateway to Southern Europe at Milan-Malpensa airport is now fully operational. Building on its existing presence and its more than 30 year history in Italy, this expansion marks a further milestone in FedEx growth in Europe to better meet the increasing needs of Italian and European businesses and consumers.

　　“With 95% of the world’s consumers living outside U.S. borders, FedEx has prioritized its expansion in areas that drive profitable growth and in turn, break down barriers and enable our customers to reach new markets,” said David Cunningham, president and CEO, FedEx Express. “Connecting people and possibilities translates into business prosperity, jobs, and a more efficient pipeline for goods, resulting in economic growth.”

　　The 35,000-square-meter express logistics facility features advanced technology that will boost package sorting capacity by 25 percent. This improves efficiency and enables FedEx to better meet volume growth and continue to provide excellent service to its customers.

　　“Expanding our operations in Malpensa is a key part of our network growth strategy, creating more capacity and enabling more business connections in Europe and around the world,” said David Binks, president, FedEx Express Europe and CEO of . “This new Southern Europe gateway represents the next step in building Europe’s premier logistics network.”

　　“In Italy alone, the number of people making online purchases has doubled over the last five years and purchases for 2016 are forecast to increase by 17% compared to 2015”[1], Binks said.

　　Now more than ever, Italian companies are showing a strong propensity for global growth, which has led to increased demand for air transport to international markets. Over the last 12 months, the number of shipments sent via FedEx from Italy to the rest of the world has grown by double digits.