Royal Mail announced in 2024 it was pulling the morning mail plane from April last year to save money and contribute to its net-zero goals.
Guernsey Post agreed that it should keep the aircraft service out of the island to support its important bulk mail customers, including greeting card giants Moonpig and Funky Pigeon.
But today it has announced that the dedicated plane will be withdrawn in early July, and all standard mail will then be transported to and from the island by sea.
It said that supply chain costs meant it was no longer cost-effective to operate a dedicated export aircraft each weekday. Going by sea would be a ‘practical and commercially responsible way to maintain a reliable service’, it said.
‘The dedicated aircraft has been part of our operation for many years and it has served us well, but the increasing cost of the air network means it is no longer financially sustainable. The sea‑freight network offers a robust, cost‑effective alternative for bulk mail,’ said Guernsey Post CEO Steve Sheridan.
‘The sea freight network is proven and routinely transports incoming goods and parcels. It provides a stable, dependable and robust option for mail.
‘Our priority is to provide a reliable, well-managed and financially sustainable postal service for the island.
'Transitioning standard mail to sea allows for that while also protecting essential services for those who depend on them.’
Customers should now allow an additional 24 hours for their items to connect with UK deliveries.
Guernsey Post is working to secure a daily service using its commercial partners for scheduled flights to maintain a next-day service for urgent items
There will be adjustments to operational working hours so mail can be precessed to align with the revised schedule.
‘We are working closely with staff and the union to plan this carefully and ensure a smooth transition,’ said Mr Sheridan.
Guernsey Post said that it had been working with bulk mail customers to ensure the sea-based model works for them.
‘We have a strong, long-standing working relationship with our bulk mail customers and they remain fully committed to operating from the island. We’ve been working closely with them for some time to make sure the revised sea‑based model continues to meet their commercial needs. They understand the reasons for the change and have been constructive in helping us shape a viable solution that works for all parties,’ said Mr Sheridan.
Guernsey Post will also introduce new competitively priced parcel options at the time of the July transition to sea. These enhancements are made possible by the efficiencies generated through the move to sea.
Royal Mail has withdrawn the mail plane from all three Crown Dependencies over the past couple of years.
Jersey went first in August 2023, followed by the Isle of Man service two months later.
Guernsey’s service was withdrawn last April, at a time when about half of all incoming mail was flown in. In 2024 the island had 2,151 tonnes of mail moved by air.
The islands each paid for the plane to export post, and Guernsey Post kept this arrangement going after Royal Mail withdrew, chartering an ATR-72 to carry between four and six tonnes a day to East Midlands airport.
Incoming mail is brought to the island on the overnight ferry Condor Islander.
