GPS trackers used to find source of mail delays

Julie Thomas from Jersey Post said it was using GPS trackers to identify the cause of delays

A Jersey mail service is using GPS trackers placed inside mail in a bid to find out the cause of postal delays.

In August 2023, Royal Mail ended the mail plane service resulting in the loss of next day delivery to the UK.

Jersey Post now offers a two to three day delivery service but some islanders have been affected by delays, with one woman saying a Mother's Day card took 15 days to arrive.

Julie Thomas, managing director of Jersey Post, said it was working with Royal Mail to find out "exactly where the hold ups are".

Jersey Post is working with Royal Mail to tackle the issue

"It's not clear what the issues are and whether they sit in the local delivery offices or whether it's part of issues within the (UK) super hub," she said.

Ms Thomas said the team had placed tracking devices inside packets and sent them to UK addresses to test the speed and routes for delivery.

The results have been shared with Royal Mail, which had now taken steps to correct the issues within its network, she said.

Jesey Post said the issue would continue to be monitored using GPS tracking and weekly calls with Royal Mail were in place to ensure the level of service required for islanders was sustained.

It added it had recently renewed its license with the Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority for another ten years, with a target to deliver 90% of mail within 24 hours of receiving it at their sorting office and that monitoring the UK service was one of its obligations under the licence.

Mail Fast would look into funding its own mail plane for next day delivery into Jersey

It comes as a private competitor is launching an airmail service to target the lack of a next-day service to the UK.

Mail Fast, which is part of freight company Hub Europe Express, is opening a shop in St Helier for customers to send post using space on commercial aeroplanes to the UK, Guernsey and the other Channel Islands.

Owner Christopher Bee said he believed it was what the "people of Jersey deserve".

He said the service would "expand to cover Europe and the rest of the world" after resolving some customs issues and would look at funding its own mail plane for next day delivery into Jersey, if there was enough demand.