HILO >> The Big Island's burgeoning agricultural export industry is getting a boost from FedEx, which has started daily flights delivering fresh flowers and fruit direct to Los Angeles. FedEx begins direct
service between
Hilo and L.A.Associated Press
A Boeing MD-11 cargo plane, which began loading agricultural products Monday at Hilo International Airport, will operate flights five days a week, said David Melnikov, the Big Island account agent for the Memphis, Tenn.-based FedEx Corp.
Before, cargo shipped via FedEx was flown in smaller planes to Honolulu, where it was transferred to other flights headed for the mainland.
The 160,000-pound capacity freighter can carry more fresh fruits, plants and flowers in less time, more often, more efficiently and with less handling to mainland markets, Melnikov said. Its daily route will take it from Honolulu to Hilo to Los Angeles and Oakland before heading back to Honolulu.
The flights, which will be able to handle containers, skids and pallets, will also allow for "heavyweight service" from Hilo to Los Angeles, Melnikov said.
"Almost anything now can be shipped directly to Los Angeles, which is always a hot market for Hawaii products," he said. "This is a huge new opportunity for FedEx and customers here."
Shippers of everything from fresh fish to large equipment will be able to take advantage of the new service, he said.
FedEx Corp.