Mail plane loss would have "little impact" on online deliveries

Tuesday 13 June 2023

There will be "very little impact" on islanders' online delivery times if Jersey loses its mail plane because most e-commerce packages come in by ferry anyway, according to Jersey Post's Chair.

But Alan Merry admitted that local businesses "trying to get things off-island" will take a hit.

"Very little impact on what we all experience as islanders"

His comments come after islanders raised concerns about Royal Mail's plans to replace Jersey's daily mail flight with a ferry service in order to cut costs and be more environmentally friendly.

Mr Merry stressed that the potential loss of the plane would have "very little impact on what we all experience as islanders".

"The perception is that it will impact on people. What you see in the press and the blogs, the commentary is, 'this is going to impact me getting that parcel'," he continued.

Pictured: Local businesses trying to send parcels away will feel an impact if Jersey gets a mail ferry instead, Jersey Post said.

"Almost all of the parcels, if not all of them, come in by ferry and have done for ages.

"But people have that perception that, that immediate and quick delivery they get from the retailer or Amazon, is because it comes on the plane – and it's not the case."

Seeking "alternatives" for local export businesses

However, he acknowledged that local businesses wishing to export goods will feel an impact.

Mr Merry added, however, that Jersey Post is "working with those businesses to try and provide them with suitable alternatives".

A consultation on the potential changes – which have sparked fears of an extra working day being added to delivery times – closed at the start of this month.

"How soon could it go?"

Jersey Post Chief Executive Mark Siviter said: "First of all, we probably won't get sight of all the feedback, because when you respond to a public consultation you have the right for it to remain confidential. So anyone that responds can say they want all, of some of it, to remain confidential.

"Having said that, Royal Mail have now collated the responses and we're in dialogue at the minute with them to talk through what sort of responses they've got."

He added: "So how soon could it go? Well, I'm not sure really [that] there's a date on it because there's so many moving parts, in terms of government discussions, commercial discussions – but I think it could be this year."

Challenging landscape

Jersey Post yesterday announced that it recorded a loss of £6.6 million for 2022, after supply-chain disruption, workforce shortages, the war in Ukraine, the cost of living crisis and industrial unrest led to increased operating costs and a 46% gross-margin reduction.

However, Mr Siviter said the utility business nonetheless had ambitious growth plans and that no redundancies were planned.