Poor weather hits Royal Mail targets
Royal Mail blamed poor weather and last year’s volcanic ash crisis as it missed a number of its delivery targets for the 2010-2011 period. Due to “disruption to air, road and rail services”, the delivery performance of First Class stamped and meter mail stood at 91.4% – against a target of 93%. The Second Class figure was 98.2%, below the target of 98.5%.
However, Royal Mail said with “adjustments for the impact on our operations of exceptional weather and the closure of UK airspace”, it exceeded its targets in both areas (First Class stamped and meter mail – 93%; Second Class – 98.8%)
Royal Mail is now asking Postcomm to apply the adjustments “to recognise the impact of the severity of the weather conditions and the disruption caused by the volcanic ash cloud”. The operator claims that the exceptional conditions “fully warrant adjustments as [it] did everything possible to cope with events beyond its control.”
A decision from Postcomm is expected later this year.
Mark Higson, managing director of operations and modernisation, said: “Royal Mail’s performance in the face of exceptional challenges last financial year is a tribute to the determination and dedication of our postmen and women.
“We are sorry for any difficulties experienced by our customers. We did everything possible to deliver their mail in the face of prolonged spells of extreme winter weather and the unprecedented closure of UK airspace.”
Royal Mail says it was ahead of its First Class delivery targets up until November last year, despite the ash cloud crisis. However, the operator saw delivery targets slip due to the coldest December in the UK for 100 years, despite investing £20m in additional transport, an extra 20,000 recruits and 18,000 additional delivery rounds.
Despite the “exceptional conditions”, Royal Mail achieved a 94.3% success rate for ‘Standard Parcels’ against a target of 90% – before adjustment. European International Delivery targets were also exceeded – achieving 93.1% against a target of 85%.
Mailsort 3, a bulk business mail service, also beat its 97.5% target without adjustment with a performance of 98%.
