EXHIBIT 12.1 FEDERAL EXPRESS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES (Unaudited) Six Months Ended Year Ended May 31, November 30, ----------------------------------------------------------- ----------------- 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1997 1998 -------- -------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -------- ------ (In thousands, except ratios) Earnings: Income before income taxes.............. $378,462 $522,084 $539,959 $628,221 $735,213 $431,504 $420,995 Add back: Interest expense, net of capitalized interest................ 152,170 130,923 105,449 95,689 117,726 58,901 45,267 Amortization of debt issuance costs...................... 2,860 2,493 1,628 1,328 1,339 679 406 Portion of rent expense representative of interest factor..................... 285,261 329,370 386,254 434,846 499,823 241,347 263,010 -------- -------- --------- --------- ---------- -------- ------- Earnings as adjusted.................... $818,753 $984,870 $1,033,290 $1,160,084 $1,354,101 $732,431 $729,678 -------- -------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -------- -------- Fixed Charges: Interest expense, net of capitalized interest.................. $152,170 $130,923 $ 105,449 $ 95,689 $ 117,726 $ 58,901 $ 45,267 Capitalized interest.................... 29,738 27,381 39,254 39,449 31,443 15,955 19,842 Amortization of debt issuance costs........................ 2,860 2,493 1,628 1,328 1,339 679 406 Portion of rent expense representative of interest factor....................... 285,261 329,370 386,254 434,846 499,823 241,347 263,010 -------- -------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -------- -------- $470,029 $490,167 $ 532,585 $ 571,312 $ 650,331 $316,882 $328,525 -------- -------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -------- -------- Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges...... 1.7 2.0 1.9 2.0 2.1 2.3 2.2 -------- -------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -------- --------