UN postal agency hit by air traffic disruption in Europe

GENEVA - An official with the Universal Postal Union (UPU) said Monday that operators across Europe were trying to cope with the closed skies that have seen planes needed to deliver letters and packages grounded.

“Some mail is just not moving because flights are not taking off,” said Rheal LeBlanc, a spokesman for the United Nations agency based in Bern, Switzerland, which has 191 members around the world.

“It is the international mail that absolutely needs flights,” he added.

With a growing number of packages, letters, bills and other documents urgently awaiting shipment, some European operators were already finding alternatives, such as overland transport.

For the service to destinations beyond the continent, offices were trying to move the cargo to southern Europe, where some flights were taking off to Asia and other regions.

“They are trying to keep the post moving the best way they can and they are looking at new ways to keep it moving,” Leblanc told DPA.

The economic losses were as yet unclear and operators would also have to investigate what provisions they could offer customers, who have become accustomed to same-day delivery and other services that can be met only with air transport.