Which company launched the first overnight express delivery service in 1973? FedEx launched it. The company, then called Federal Express, began overnight operations on April 17, 1973, connecting 25 U.S. cities through a centralized air-cargo system based in Memphis, Tennessee.
Founder Frederick W. Smith designed the company around a hub-and-spoke network. Packages collected from different cities were flown to a central hub, sorted during the night, and sent onward to their destinations. Federal Express started with 14 Dassault Falcon 20 aircraft and carried 186 packages on its first night. This system made reliable next-day delivery practical for urgent documents and small parcels.
The company was founded in 1971 and moved its base from Little Rock to Memphis before beginning service. A frequent mix-up is the name: “FedEx” became the corporate brand later, while the original operating company was Federal Express. UPS, USPS, and DHL also offer overnight or express services, but Federal Express pioneered this dedicated overnight air-delivery model in the United States.