Posts suspend services to the Middle East

National postal operators across Europe, Asia and Oceania have suspended deliveries, returned parcels to senders and warned of mounting international delays after airspace closures linked to the US–Israel–Iran conflict disrupted global mail routes.

As previously reported by CEP-Research, the express and freight sectors have also been heavily impacted by the sudden shutdown of key Gulf corridors. For posts, whose international dispatches depend heavily on flights and transit hubs in the Middle East, the operational impact has been immediate.

CEP-Research has approached the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and the International Post Corporation (IPC) for comment on the broader consequences for international mail exchanges, but neither organisation had responded at the time of publication.

European posts halt deliveries

Several European posts have already implemented suspensions covering a wide range of Middle Eastern destinations.

Poczta Polska announced that from 2 March it had suspended acceptance of postal items addressed to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman and the UAE, citing instability in the region and transport difficulties.

Lithuanian Post has taken similar action, temporarily halting the dispatch of all letters, postcards and parcels to multiple Middle Eastern countries. The operator said air delivery has become impossible following military operations and the cancellation of flights by logistics partners. Parcels accepted but not yet dispatched will be returned to senders, who may apply for postage refunds, while items already in transit will be delivered as soon as conditions allow, albeit with potential delays.

In Central Europe, Slovenská pošta warned of possible delays for shipments routed via Doha, particularly those reliant on Qatar Airways connections. Because Doha functions as a key transit hub, disruptions may also affect mail flows to destinations beyond the Middle East, including North America and Asia.

Meanwhile, Hrvatska pošta in Croatia reported difficulties and intermittent interruptions in traffic to Israel, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iran. Pošta Slovenije temporarily suspended all types of shipments to Iran, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, stating that services will resume once conditions stabilise.

Estonia’s Omniva also moved to suspend acceptance of shipments to the region on 3 March, halting deliveries to the UAE, Bahrain, Israel, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman and Saudi Arabia. The restriction covers both commercial parcels and postal items. “Unfortunately, we are seeing air transport to the region being suspended due to the threat of military activity in the airspace,” said Sven Kukemelk, Chief Commercial Officer of Omniva. “Many flights have already been cancelled or are in the process of being cancelled, and Omniva is currently unable to guarantee delivery of shipments.”

Shipments already accepted but not yet dispatched will be stored until they can be sent, while those already in transit will be delivered at the earliest opportunity.

Asia-Pacific operators reroute

In Southeast Asia, Thailand Post confirmed it is rerouting international express parcel shipments while maintaining current service fee rates. The state operator has sought alternative paths to ensure continuity after numerous flight cancellations and airspace closures.

In a Bangkok Post report, Chief Executive Dhanant Subhadrabandhu said the use of non-optimised routes has led to some delays but emphasised that operations are proceeding under a business continuity plan with daily monitoring of developments.

The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) has gone further, temporarily suspending the acceptance of all outbound international mail, including letters, parcels and Express Mail Service (EMS), to 35 countries whose routes pass through Dubai and Doha. PHLPost said that it is coordinating with international postal administrations and customs authorities to facilitate a gradual restoration of services.

Meanwhile, Hongkong Post has suspended airmail services to Saudi Arabia and the UAE with immediate effect, adding that mail normally transiting those hubs will also be held back.

In Oceania, Australia Post advised that all services to and from the Middle East may experience delays due to regional airspace restrictions. It further warned that disruptions could extend to Europe and other markets because several Gulf airports function as major airline transit hubs.

UK warns of delays

In the UK, Royal Mail is continuing to accept export traffic to Iran, Israel, Iraq, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Oman. However, it cautioned that some shipments transit through impacted areas and customers are likely to face delays.

The operator said it remains in close contact with airlines and destination partners, noting that the situation is highly fluid and could change at short notice.

FedEx resumes in three of five suspended countries

On the express side, FedEx has partially restored services in the Middle East after suspending local pickup and delivery operations in five countries earlier this week. FedEx informed customers on 1 March that flights to and from Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia had been suspended, and that local pickup and delivery services in Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar and the UAE had been temporarily halted.

By 3 March, the US carrier had resumed pickup and delivery in Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE, but services remain suspended in Iraq and Bahrain. FedEx said it continues to evaluate the situation and that customers shipping to or from the region may experience extended transit times.

“The safety and security of our team members is our top priority,” the company told CEP-Research. “We are closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East and have implemented contingency measures to ensure business continuity.”

Another shock after US disruptions

The Middle East crisis comes only months after many posts were forced to suspend parcel services to the United States following the abrupt end of the US de minimis exemption in late August, which left operators with limited time to adapt to new customs and compliance requirements.

The renewed turmoil highlights the vulnerability of cross-border mail to geopolitical and regulatory shocks.