Guernsey Post working to maintain daily mail plane after Royal Mail ends deal

Monday 19 August 2024

Guernsey Post has seven months to secure a new deal on a daily mail plane.

It follows a decision earlier this year by Royal Mail to end its contribution to the service which has already been scrapped in Jersey where the ferry is now used to transport post from the UK instead.

Under current arrangements Guernsey Post and Royal Mail make an equal contribution to the cost of the aircraft which is used exclusively to transport mail between Guernsey and the UK.  

Royal Mail will end its contribution from April 2025 as part of a wider plan by Royal Mail to reduce costs across their postal network.

Boley Smillie, Chief Executive of Guernsey Post said: “We were informed of Royal Mail’s change in position earlier this year, which was disappointing news.  

“However, we have been working hard to secure a deal with alternative potential partners.  As commercial negotiations are underway it is too early to comment further but we are making good progress.  Our priority is to secure the current or a similar aircraft and maintain next day delivery services to the UK from Guernsey.” 

 He added that over the course of the last few months Guernsey Post had been working with several of its major clients who export from the island.

“They have been kept fully informed of the developments and are supportive of our plans. In the meantime, it is at least seven months before any change takes place, so it is business as usual.” 

Guernsey is the base for fulfilment centres for large greeting card companies Moonpig and Funky Pigeon.

The daily paper plane last flew to Jersey in August 2023. Royal Mail also ended a similar arrangement with Isle of Man Post at the same time.

During consultation on those changes, the “due date” for the Channel Islands was changed to allow for additional working days for sending and receiving post.