Online greeting card giants ‘save’ the daily mail plane

Jersey and the Isle Of Man mail planes are now under threat, as Royal Mail looks to make savings having reported annual losses of £1bn for 2022.

But Guernsey has been reassured its plane was not under threat at this time.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: ‘While we do not at this stage intend to review the flight to and from Guernsey, it is possible that we may do so in the future.

‘The proposed change to the scheme would allow Royal Mail to make these changes without further consultation.’

Royal Mail said investigating cutting the Jersey and the Isle of Man flights was a commercial decision.

Guernsey Post CEO Boley Smillie said the mail plane, which arrives every morning at 6.30am, was imperative for the local postal service.

He has been in regular contact with Royal Mail about the proposed changes and would be responding formally to the consultation.

‘During these discussions we have mutually agreed the rationale for retaining the mail plane to and from Guernsey.

‘Royal Mail and Guernsey Post have had a very productive relationship over many years and while the industry is under significant pressure, resulting in significant increases in costs, we are assured that there are no changes being considered that would materially impact our partnership,’ he said.

Guernsey’s mail plane is regularly filled to capacity, with approximately 40% of the mail delivered by Guernsey Post transported by air.

This is despite Guernsey having a smaller population than Jersey and the Isle of Man.

‘The daily aircraft is imperative to our business model, and for our online retailers in Guernsey where next day delivery in the UK is essential,’ Mr Smillie said.

‘If this situation were to ever change we would certainly consult with customers so as for it not to have a detrimental impact on our economy.

Mr Smillie said the consultation was looking at whether to end the provision of a next day service to the Crown Dependencies.

‘If this change is made Royal Mail will likely cease the transportation of mail by aircraft to and from Jersey and the Isle of Man,’ he said.

‘The situation in Guernsey is different and nothing changes.’

News broke earlier this week that Royal Mail are considering abandoning their daily mail flights to the Crown Dependencies, stating in their consultation document that Crown Dependencies were not part of the UK and as such, were not covered by its universal service obligations, which include providing a next day delivery service to every address across the UK.

‘We are therefore proposing to change the definition of ‘Due Date’ to these territories.’ they said.