FedEx Flies Giant Pandas Nonstop from China to Atlanta
Two giant pandas, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, embarked on a nonstop flight from China to Atlanta, Georgia, on a FedEx Boeing 777F freighter. The journey, which began at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU) on September 25, is expected to take around 15 hours and cover approximately 6,900 nautical miles.
The pandas were accompanied by experienced keepers from Zoo Atlanta, who had been sent to China to prepare them for the flight. The aircraft was also loaded with food items such as steamed corn buns, bamboo shoots, and carrots to feed the pandas during the journey.
This is not the first time FedEx has transported giant pandas. Since 2000, the company has flown a total of 23 pandas, including this latest pair, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, who will spend the next ten years at Zoo Atlanta.