Royal Mail may soon be allowed to stop delivering second-class letters on Saturdays under potential reforms being considered by the regulator Ofcom. The move is part of ongoing consultations about the future of the universal postal service, with Ofcom focusing on changes to second-class mail delivery.
Under the proposed changes, second-class deliveries would be limited to alternate weekdays, though the delivery time would remain at up to three working days. No final decision has been made yet, with Ofcom continuing to review the proposals. A consultation is expected in early 2025, with a decision anticipated by summer.
Currently, Royal Mail is legally required to deliver letters six days a week and parcels five days a week. However, the volume of letters has been steadily decreasing, while parcel deliveries have increased, resulting in financial losses for the service.
Royal Mail’s owner, International Distribution Services (IDS), which was taken over by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky in May for £3.57 billion, has expressed support for the reforms. Martin Seidenberg, group chief executive of IDS, said: “Change cannot come soon enough,” and emphasized that the proposed reforms are essential for protecting the future of the service.
The company’s proposal to scale back second-class and bulk business mail deliveries could save it up to £300 million annually, and the plan could result in fewer than 1,000 voluntary redundancies, as daily delivery routes are reduced.
Ofcom’s group director for networks and communications, Lindsey Fussell, noted that while changes to the universal service are being considered, Royal Mail will still be expected to improve efficiency, invest in its network, and maintain high service standards.
