AIR Contractors has acquired French postal provider Europe Airpost.
Exclusive negotiations were completed on 30 November between Air Contractors and La Poste.
A number of formalities, including the privatisation approval of EAP will now follow. These are expected to be completed by early February 2008.
Read MoreNorthwest Airlines’ cargo future is hanging in the balance, as the carrier prepares for the loss of its largest customer, DHL Express, next year.
Chief financial officer Dave Davis, said that Northwest will quit flying for DHL late next year. The carrier may be forced to consolidate its airfreight business, or to consider a merger, but it claims selling it is not an option.
Davis said Northwest is “actively looking” for the right partner for a possible merger.
Northwest’s fleet of 747 freighters makes it the only US carrier with dedicated cargo aircraft.
Read MoreMail distribution company TNT NV said it is ‘not afraid’ of facing financial repercussions if it decides to freeze or perhaps even abandon current cooperation agreements with local mail distributors in Germany.
‘At the moment we have no calculation of any expected costs, but we’re not afraid of financial repercussions,’ a TNT spokesman told Thomson Financial News.
TNT said it may freeze or perhaps even abandon all current cooperation agreements it has signed with regional German mail distributors in light of proposed German legislation which would see a minimum wage imposed for postal workers.
TNT is ‘very much opposed’ to that government proposal as it would ‘destroy whatever level playing field is left for us in Germany — if at all,’ the TNT spokesman said.
‘It is very difficult for any company, such as ours, to pursue normal business in an area where there’s outright market protection going on,’ he added, referring to the German postal market.
Aside from the minimum wage for postal workers, which would also hit TNT’s competitors in the German market, TNT also wants the VAT exemption for Deutsche Post — its biggest rival — rescinded by the German government.
Read MoreThe House of Commons Business & Enterprise Select Committee has just announced a new inquiry into early experiences of the Post Office’s ‘Network Change Programme’ for restructuring the sub-post office network. It will also look at the implications of the changes to the Crown post office network and the transfer of many such offices to retail outlets, such as branches of WH Smith.
The Trade & Industry Committee (which this Committee recently replaced) examined the Government’s proposed framework for a new round of post office closures in two reports earlier this year. These reports persuaded the Government to refine the access criteria and their application. The Committee will now look at how the process is being carried out in practice.
The Committee intends to focus on:
– experience of the local consultation process so far;
– the extent to which final decisions have taken local views into account;
– the nature of the proposed 500 ‘Outreach’ services and service quality;
– the role of Postwatch in the current Programme and in the future;
– how changes to the Crown post office network interact with sub-post office closures;
– the future of both Crown and sub-post office networks.
Postwatch will submit evidence to this inquiry and appear before the Committee.
Read Morecompany as a direct result, new research revealed today.
The survey, conducted on behalf of Royal Mail by YouGov, shows that 69 per cent of consumers make a purchase of up to GBP 100 after receiving a card from a company such as a high street store. More than a quarter (27 per cent) of all consumers who made a purchase spent over GBP 100, and 12 per cent spent over GBP 500.
The study is unveiled as Royal Mail reminds businesses of the last posting dates to ensure that they send their Christmas greetings on time and do not leave customers and suppliers feeling neglected. Companies with a global customer base should plan ahead with their Christmas card mailings – the recommended last posting date for festive greetings to destinations such as Australia and South Africa is 7 December.
The research also revealed:
– 84 per cent of consumers prefer to receive company Christmas cards through the mail, compared with only 3 per cent who prefer email greetings
– This figure jumps to 91 per cent for the over 55 demographic
Thierry Saada, Director of Sector Marketing at Royal Mail, said: “A Christmas card sends an important message that you value your customers and our research shows that consumers respond well to this personal touch.”
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