FedEx has moved two giant pandas from Chengdu, China to Atlanta, Georgia aboard a Boeing 777 freighter designated the "FedEx Panda Express," bringing to 23 the number of pandas the company has transported to and from China since 2000.

The animals — six-year-old male Ping Ping and five-year-old female Fu Shuang — flew non-stop from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. FedEx conducted the operation in partnership with Zoo Atlanta, which supplied animal specialists to accompany the bears throughout the flight.

Ping Ping and Fu Shuang travelled in custom-built crates and were the sole cargo on the aircraft. The load included fresh bamboo, water and an assortment of their preferred treats.

Preparation began well before departure. The pandas spent time acclimatising to their enclosures to ensure a safe and comfortable journey, according to the airline.

FedEx's role extended beyond the flight itself. The company also provided trucking and logistical support in Atlanta to move the pandas from the airport to Zoo Atlanta.

The carrier said it would donate the full transportation cost of the relocation as part of its corporate social responsibility and environmental conservation commitments.

"We have had the privilege of transporting giant pandas for more than two decades, and every time the FedEx Panda Express is called into service, our entire team feels the significance of the mission," said Richard Smith, chief operating officer, International, and chief executive officer, Airline, FedEx.

"Safely delivering Ping Ping and Fu Shuang to their new home in Atlanta underscores our long-standing commitment to global conservation and our network's ability to securely transport high-priority, precious cargo."

The operation highlights a niche but recurring segment of the animal air charter market, in which integrators deploy widebody freighters for single-species, high-welfare consignments requiring custom handling equipment and specialist attendants. Competitors including LATAM Cargo and TAAG have recently completed comparable live-animal charter operations in the Americas and Africa respectively.

For FedEx, the donated relocation reinforces a two-decade track record in conservation logistics that dates back to 2000, and the company's willingness to assign a 777 freighter to a two-animal payload suggests the reputational value of such missions continues to outweigh the opportunity cost of the capacity.