Guernsey’s incoming post will arrive by ferry once the mail plane service ends in April – adding an additional 24-hours on to its cross-Channel delivery time.
Outgoing mail – for both businesses and residents – will continue leaving the island by plane each weekday evening, as is currently the case, although the arrangements are changing slightly.
Guernsey Post has announced the details of what it has called the ‘air solution’ to counter-act the loss of the mail plane, which was announced last year.
“We are delighted to continue providing our customers with a robust and reliable export solution,” said Steve Sheridan, Guernsey Post’s Chief Executive.
“Our new service ensures seamless injection into the Royal Mail network all while maintaining an efficient and consistent export service for our Bailiwick residents.”
Royal Mail announced it was ending its contribution to Guernsey’s mail plane service last year.
Mail plane services had already been scrapped in the Isle of Man and Jersey, where a ferry has been used for both in and out bound mail since August 2023.
When Royal Mail called time on Guernsey’s mail plane last year, Guernsey Post said it was disappointed with the decision.
Then-Chief Executive, Boley Smillie said the “priority (was) to secure the current or a similar aircraft and maintain next day delivery services to the UK from Guernsey.”
The importance of the daily link with the UK’s Royal Mail service was partly down to the island’s large fulfilment commitments through Moonpig and Funky Pigeon which both sell thousands of greetings cards and other items produced in Guernsey to customers across the world.
Under the new arrangements – which will come in to play on Monday 7 April – all incoming post from Royal Mail will be transported via the UK road network before being dispatched to Guernsey by sea.
Guernsey Post said this will align mail services to our Bailiwick with those of Jersey and the Isle of Man.
It will also mean a longer delivery time on incoming mail arriving at Guernsey Post headquarters for local delivery, said Mr Sheridan.
“As Royal Mail volumes will now be travelling to Guernsey using the road and sea network customers will see an additional 24 hours on the posting time,” he explained.
“Once the volumes arrive in Guernsey we will continue to process and deliver it on the same day, in line with current arrangements.”
Mr Sheridan said exported mail will be sent via aircraft to the UK each weekday evening – which is the same situation as currently.
“There is no change to the current despatch arrangements in that everything that is currently exported by air now will continue, this includes general mail and special delivery items,” he confirmed.
“Our unique bulk mail export requirements have allowed us to establish a commercially viable solution to enable us to continue to provide this Monday to Friday service. We are continuing to use the same type of aircraft, an ATR-72, with the same load capacity of 6-tonne.
“Our roadside collection times will remain the same, and the plane will continue to depart each evening at around 19:50, to connect with the Royal Mail network for onward delivery the next working day.”