FedEx and the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority have renamed Memphis International Airport as Frederick W. Smith International Airport, unveiling a retro-liveried Boeing 777F during a tribute ceremony in Memphis on 11 August 2026. The dedication marked the first FWS Day of Service and honoured FedEx founder Frederick W. Smith, who died in June 2025, in a move that immediately rebranded the airport at the centre of the company’s global cargo network.
The ceremony brought together FedEx, airport officials, the Memphis community and chief executive Raj Subramaniam. The new name recognises Smith’s role in building Memphis into a major air-cargo hub and reflects the long-standing link between the airport and FedEx’s early operations in the city.
The airport authority is rolling out the change in stages, with physical and technical rebranding phased in to avoid disruption to operations. The aircraft tribute added a visual nod to the carrier’s history, with the Boeing 777F painted in Federal Express-style retro colours for the occasion.