Lynx/USPS tie-up gets off to a great start

Lynx Express is sending 1,000 packages a week to US homes and businesses through its new partnership with the US Postal Service (USPS).
Chief executive David Burtenshaw said he believed Lynx could attract 5% of the Europe/US market, which he estimated at £1bn ( t1.6bn), inside two years.

The four to five-day US Priority Package service is claimed to provide a “closed loop” similar to the integrators, but at around 60% of their overnight rates, said Burtenshaw.

“Services are fairly average unless you’re paying for the premium end of air service, but not everyone wants to pay the express rate, ” he said.

US distribution via mail consolidators or freight forwarders meant five or six people were “touching the parcel, ” said Burtenshaw.

“Too many opportunities for things to go wrong.” International director Nick Basford said pre-sort systems and UK-generated barcoding and manifests made the system more secure and gave European customers access to higher discounts from USPS.

He saw shipments of books, magazines and catalogues to businesses, libraries and private consumers as a prime target.

The service is currently offered only from the UK, but trials are taking place in Spain.

Partners in Germany and Italy are in place and Lynx plans to introduce the system in the Netherlands using its own nightly air service into the UK.

Packages currently fly out of Heathrow, but Burtenshaw said Lynx wanted to introduce an ex-Manchester service later this year.