Royal Mail misses First Class targets

Royal Mail narrowly missed its First Class target for spring – citing the Icelandic volcano eruption as a key reason behind the failure. The results were released in the company’s latest quality of service report published today.

The majority of other quality targets, however, including Second Class and Standard Parcels, were achieved in the spring.

The latest preliminary figures for the summer months show that First Class mail has again been performing ahead of its 93% target.

Royal Mail operates the UK’s largest night-time air charter operation to fly First Class mail travelling longer distances, for example between Scotland and the south of England.

Although First Class mail was transferred to road and ferry services during the period of disruption to UK flights in April, there are no alternative distribution routes which ensure next-day delivery.

The performance report for the period from the end of March to early June showed that 92.6% of First Class stamped and franked mail arrived the day after posting – but if it had not been for the air disruption caused by volcanic ash, First Class would have exceeded its 93% target.

The report shows Second Class stamped and franked mail exceeded its 98.5% target with a 98.6% performance, along with most business mail services, Standard Parcels and International Delivery for mail posted in the UK for European destinations. First Class bulk mail narrowly missed its target – again as a direct result of disruption to air services.

Mark Higson, Royal Mail’s managing director, said: “We’re very determined to keep improving our performance to ensure we consistently hit our targets and our people are very focused on delivering the best possible service at all times for all our customers.”