Either discovery/Science channel/History/etc did a show on UPS and how it works. I think the show is called "How They Do It" or something. They use a hub-and-spoke system. Much easier to do customs, re-routing, etc all in one place. Also makes their airplane fleet efficient. Rather than routing planes different from Alaska, which will be large international birds, they just refuel and continue right on to KY. Then they sort out to smaller, regional planes or trucks to go to regional hubs. Then they get to your local center or just go straight to you. It's really pretty interesting, quite efficient, and cost/time saving.
Food for though: more than half of the operations out of Memphis International and Louisville are due to FedEx/UPS respectively. Those airports wouldn't be what they are today without the carriers.
Food for though: more than half of the operations out of Memphis International and Louisville are due to FedEx/UPS respectively. Those airports wouldn't be what they are today without the carriers.