New international services offer compensation across the globe

Royal Mail has simplified its international express and signature services to make them easier to use and understand.

Customers will also be given added peace of mind with compensation cover for loss or damage to all worldwide destinations plus a signature on delivery, or electronic tracking and confirmation of delivery via the internet.

The review of services includes the introduction of Airsure, a new service which offers priority handling in both the UK and destination country as well as track and trace all the way to the delivery address.

Airsure has been developed through a collaboration of national post offices which ensures that mail sent by the service is certain of receiving priority handling at both ends of its journey.

Another new service, International Signed For replaces the International Registered and International Recorded services, and Swiftair has been enhanced and now offers a signature on delivery as well as priority handling in the UK and in many countries overseas.

The new and improved services were launched on 31st October 2002.

Trevor Sayer, general manager, Royal Mail international services said: “We have reviewed and improved our range of express and signature services to ensure that they are easier for customers to use and understand and are faster more reliable and more secure.

“The priority handling and compensation cover available with the improved Swiftair and the new Airsure services make them highly cost-effective alternatives to expensive courier services.

“And with Royal Mail’s new international services you can now send valuable goods to more than 100 countries, including the USA and Canada, where compensation cover was previously unavailable.”

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NOTES TO EDITORS

Details of the new international express and signature services:

Swiftair – an accelerated Airmail service.
· Anything which can be sent by Airmail can be sent Swiftair.
· For an additional £3.30 on top of normal Airmail prices, items are fast-tracked on to the first available flight to their destination
· Swiftair items also receive priority in many, but not all, overseas destinations
· It is only available to countries where Airsure is not available (see below).
· It will be signed for on delivery.
· Journey is electronically tracked to the point of departure in the UK.
· Compensation is included up to a maximum of £30. For an additional £1 compensation is available for up to £250 or £500 depending on the destination.

Airsure – a new service which is an enhancement of Swiftair offering priority handling in both the UK and destination country, and track and trace.
The service has been developed through a collaboration of national post offices working together on a project known as PRIME – Project for Improvement of the Express Service.
· Items will receive priority handling in the UK – fast-tracked onto the first available flight to its destination.
· Unlike Swiftair, Airsure items are also certain of receiving priority handling in the destination country.
· Airsure is only available to a number of other countries in the PRIME group.
· The destinations available are
* Azores
* Andorra
* Balearic Islands
* Canary Islands
* Denmark
* Finland
* Iceland
* Irish Republic
* Madeira
* Netherlands
* Portugal
* Slovak Republic
* Spain
* Sweden

· Airsure items will also be tracked electronically from the moment they are posted to delivery.
· Cost will be £4 in addition to Airmail cost.
· Compensation for loss or damage is included up to £30 but for an additional £1 it is available for £250 or £500 depending on the country – levels are fixed on a country by country basis.

International Signed For – replaces International Recorded and International Registered
For £2.85 plus Airmail or Surface Mail postage the service offers:
· A signature on delivery.
· Electronic tracking up until departure from the UK.
· Compensation for loss or damage up to £30. For an additional £1 compensation is available for up to £250 or £500 dependent on the country.
· Unlike International Registered the service is also available for mail sent printed paper rate.

Prepaid packaging
Durable waterproof C4 packs, pre-paid (up to 300g) will be available for Airsure (£6) and Swiftair (£5.50).
More information is available at www.royalmail.com or by phoning Royal Mail customer services on 08457-740 740.

www.royalmail.com