Workers prepare to load an aircraft at a FedEx shipping facility at O’Hare Airport on Monday in Chicago, Illinois. FedEx Corp reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit and said it is buying 27 new Boeing aircraft to update its fleet for fuel efficiency and cost savings. The company also said it is deferring delivery of some Boeing freighter aircraft, adjusting for slowing volume out of Asia. FedEx reported fiscal second-quarter net profit of $497mn, or $1.57 per share, up from $283mn, or 89 cents per share, a year ago. Analysts had been expecting a profit of $1.52 a share. FedEx Express has signed an agreement with Boeing Co to buy 27 new 767-300F aircraft, replacing some that are more than 40 years old. The company said the 767s will provide similar capacity as the MD10s being retired, with about 30% more fuel efficiency and a minimum 20% reduction in unit operating costs