Royal Mail cuts domestic flights as it shifts to greener, more reliable road transport

Royal Mail has removed 18 domestic flights from its network, transitioning to road-based operations to improve service reliability and cut emissions. The final flight in the reduction plan departed East Midlands Airport on 5 April.

This operational shift is projected to reduce annual emissions by around 30,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent and supports Royal Mail’s commitment to reach Net Zero by 2040.

Road vehicles will now distribute mail on routes previously covered by air, offering greater resilience against weather-related delays. The change also aligns with evolving e-commerce demands, with parcel sizes increasing significantly—Royal Mail reports a 30% rise in average parcel size over the past six years and a doubling in large parcels.

To support the shift, Royal Mail has upgraded its road fleet. Its HGVs are increasingly powered by Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), a low-emission diesel alternative. The business also operates the UK’s most significant electric delivery fleet, with over 6,000 EVs in service.

The remaining domestic flights in Royal Mail’s network must meet its Universal Service Obligation, ensuring next-day delivery to all UK addresses. Changes to operational timing, including later starts at delivery offices, have enabled this broader switch from air to road transport.