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                                UNITED STATES
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                 SCHEDULE 14A

          Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
                    Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.  )

Filed by the Registrant [_]

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [X]

Check the appropriate box:

[_]  Preliminary Proxy Statement

[_]  CONFIDENTIAL, FOR USE OF THE
     COMMISSION ONLY (AS PERMITTED BY
     RULE 14A-6(E)(2))

[_]  Definitive Proxy Statement

[X]  Definitive Additional Materials

[_]  Soliciting Material Pursuant to (S) 240.14a-11(c) or (S) 240.14a-12

                       American Freightways Corporation
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

                               FedEx Corporation
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)


Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

[X]  No fee required.

[_]  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.


     (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

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     (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

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     (3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
         pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which
         the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

     -------------------------------------------------------------------------


     (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

     -------------------------------------------------------------------------


     (5) Total fee paid:

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[_]  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

[_]  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange
     Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee
     was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
     number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

     (1) Amount Previously Paid:

     -------------------------------------------------------------------------


     (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

     -------------------------------------------------------------------------


     (3) Filing Party:

     -------------------------------------------------------------------------


     (4) Date Filed:

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Notes:






Reg. (S) 240.14a-101.

SEC 1913 (3-99)






Merrill Lynch & Co.

Four World Financial Center
New York, NY 10080

                                                                 January 8, 2001


To Shareholders of American Freightways Corporation
In the State of New York:

        On behalf of FedEx Corporation, there is enclosed a copy of the combined
proxy statement/prospectus of American Freightways Corporation and FedEx
Corporation dated January 8, 2001.


                                                Very truly yours,



                                                Merrill Lynch & Co.