Austrian Post today announced an alternative service for parcels to the USA in response toextended security restrictions for inbound mail items.
The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has extended the tighter security checks onUS-bound parcels and mails that were introduced in December for a period of two months by a furthermonth until March 10, the postal company said.
Under the enhanced security measures, shipments weighing more than 499g have to undergoadditional checks. Designated national postal operators have now been officially informed about theextension.
Austrian Post said that it assumes restrictions will remain place for a longer period of timeand has adapted its parcel products in response. From February 10, it will offer customers acheaper alternative to EMS shipments to the USA. Items weighing 499g or more can be shipped as a‘Paket Schnell’ (‘Fast Parcel’). These will be transported to Frankfurt and then flown by LufthansaCargo to the USA for local delivery.
A 5kg ‘Fast Parcel’ to the USA will cost only €42.50 in shipping costs compared to €100.91 ifsent via EMS, Austrian Post pointed out. Customers can also choose a cheaper but much slowerstandard parcel service which uses road and sea transportation to the USA.
A company spokesman told CEP-Research that the postal operator had decided in December to keepaccepting EMS shipments to the USA for the important Christmas shipping season. However, postaloperators had more difficulties than integrators to meet the ‘known shipper’ requirements forUS-bound parcels due to their customer base of consumers and small businesses, he stressed.
At the same time, US security authorities have launched talks with airline and postalrepresentatives to discuss the consequences of the additional security measures for mail andparcels, Austrian Post said. The first results of this dialogue are expected in about four weeks’time.
