Royal Mail to End Saturday Second-Class Deliveries Amidst Major Reforms
Published 10 July 2025
Highlights
- Royal Mail will cease Saturday deliveries for second-class letters, now delivering on alternating weekdays.
- Ofcom's reforms aim to address declining letter volumes and rising delivery costs, saving up to £425 million annually.
- First-class mail delivery remains unchanged, but new targets require 99% of mail to be delivered within two days of the expected date.
- The changes, effective from 28 July, follow extensive consultations and are intended to ensure a sustainable postal service.
- Consumer groups criticize the reforms, arguing they may not improve service reliability or standards.
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Rewritten Article
Royal Mail to End Saturday Second-Class Deliveries Amidst Major Reforms
In a significant overhaul of the UK's postal service, Royal Mail has received approval from Ofcom to discontinue Saturday deliveries of second-class letters. This decision, effective from 28 July, will see second-class mail delivered on alternating weekdays, a move aimed at addressing the declining volume of letters and the rising costs associated with their delivery.
Postal Service Reforms
The reforms, part of a broader strategy to ensure the sustainability of the Universal Service Obligation (USO), reflect changing consumer behavior, with fewer letters being sent each year. Ofcom, the industry regulator, estimates that these changes could save Royal Mail between £250 million and £425 million annually. Despite the reduction in service, first-class mail will continue to be delivered six days a week, maintaining its current level of service.
New Delivery Targets
To address concerns about delivery delays, Ofcom has introduced new targets requiring 99% of mail to be delivered within two days of the expected date. This adjustment aims to improve efficiency and reduce long delays, although the target for next-day delivery of first-class mail has been slightly reduced from 93% to 90%.
Mixed Reactions
While Royal Mail and its parent company, International Distribution Services, have welcomed the changes, citing extensive consultations with consumers and businesses, the response from consumer advocacy groups has been less favorable. Citizens Advice criticized the reforms, arguing that they may not lead to improved reliability or service standards. Tom MacInnes, the group's director of policy, expressed concern that the changes prioritize cost savings over customer service.
Economic Context
The reforms come in the wake of a £3.6 billion takeover of International Distribution Services by Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský’s EP Group. The number of letters delivered by Royal Mail has significantly decreased from a peak of 20 billion in 2004-05 to 6.6 billion in 2023-24. Despite this decline, the cost of stamps has continued to rise, with the price of a first-class stamp doubling since 2022.
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Scenario Analysis
The implementation of these reforms could lead to a more financially sustainable postal service, potentially stabilizing Royal Mail's operations amidst declining letter volumes. However, the success of these changes will largely depend on Royal Mail's ability to meet the new delivery targets and improve service reliability. If successful, these reforms could set a precedent for other postal services facing similar challenges globally. Conversely, failure to enhance service standards could lead to increased scrutiny from regulators and further dissatisfaction among consumers.
In a significant overhaul of the UK's postal service, Royal Mail has received approval from Ofcom to discontinue Saturday deliveries of second-class letters. This decision, effective from 28 July, will see second-class mail delivered on alternating weekdays, a move aimed at addressing the declining volume of letters and the rising costs associated with their delivery.
Postal Service Reforms
The reforms, part of a broader strategy to ensure the sustainability of the Universal Service Obligation (USO), reflect changing consumer behavior, with fewer letters being sent each year. Ofcom, the industry regulator, estimates that these changes could save Royal Mail between £250 million and £425 million annually. Despite the reduction in service, first-class mail will continue to be delivered six days a week, maintaining its current level of service.
New Delivery Targets
To address concerns about delivery delays, Ofcom has introduced new targets requiring 99% of mail to be delivered within two days of the expected date. This adjustment aims to improve efficiency and reduce long delays, although the target for next-day delivery of first-class mail has been slightly reduced from 93% to 90%.
Mixed Reactions
While Royal Mail and its parent company, International Distribution Services, have welcomed the changes, citing extensive consultations with consumers and businesses, the response from consumer advocacy groups has been less favorable. Citizens Advice criticized the reforms, arguing that they may not lead to improved reliability or service standards. Tom MacInnes, the group's director of policy, expressed concern that the changes prioritize cost savings over customer service.
Economic Context
The reforms come in the wake of a £3.6 billion takeover of International Distribution Services by Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský’s EP Group. The number of letters delivered by Royal Mail has significantly decreased from a peak of 20 billion in 2004-05 to 6.6 billion in 2023-24. Despite this decline, the cost of stamps has continued to rise, with the price of a first-class stamp doubling since 2022.
What this might mean
The implementation of these reforms could lead to a more financially sustainable postal service, potentially stabilizing Royal Mail's operations amidst declining letter volumes. However, the success of these changes will largely depend on Royal Mail's ability to meet the new delivery targets and improve service reliability. If successful, these reforms could set a precedent for other postal services facing similar challenges globally. Conversely, failure to enhance service standards could lead to increased scrutiny from regulators and further dissatisfaction among consumers.
