Australia Post reveals vital dates for your Christmas deliveries
Australia Post has released 2021 delivery deadlines for Christmas, ahead of what is expected to be their busiest-ever festive season.
2021 parcel volumes have already set records for Australia Post, with last year’s 52 million parcels delivered expected to be surpassed this Christmas.
The deadline announcement, which was released this morning, covers domestic metro parcel delivery via Parcel Post and Express Post.
Australia Post has released the following deadlines for domestic post:
December 13 for Parcel Post and December 20 for Express post for most Australians.
December 8 for Parcel Post and December 15 for Express Post for Western Australia and Northern Territory customers.
December 16 for all domestically sent Christmas cards.
Customers from regional areas, and those sending parcels and cards internationally, are urged to organise postage as soon as possible.
Australia Post’s Christmas information hub also states that Covid-19 delays may affect the delivery of some parcels.
“We're still delivering but Covid-19 is impacting our services more than usual. Delays may be experienced,” it says.
Australia Post customers are encouraged to keep on top of deliveries, updates and service changes via the Australia Post app, and the Australia Post Christmas hub.
Australia Post gives top tips for Christmas post
A spokesperson from Australia Post has urged customers to get in as soon as possible when sending Christmas parcels.
"While there's still plenty of time, especially for sending within a state or territory, outside of metro areas we do recommend sending earlier," they said.
"Australia Post will be delivering right up to Christmas, including Christmas Eve, and while we'll deliver items sent after the suggested dates as quickly as we can, they may not arrive until after Christmas.
"So we recommend sending parcels as early as you can to give them the best chance of arriving in time."
The spokesperson also encouraged customers to download the Australia Post app to keep up to date with what's happening with Christmas deliveries.
International postage information released
Australia Post’s Christmas information hub has released a list of international delivery deadlines:
December 3 for Standard Parcels and Letters to New Zealand, and December 7 for Express Parcels and Letters.
November 26 for Standard Parcels and Letters to the UK, and November 26 for Express Parcels and Letters.
November 30 for Standard Parcels and Letters to the USA and Canada, and December 7 for Express Parcels and Letters.
Customers sending parcels internationally are urged to take Covid-19 related delays into account.
Australia Post gives tips for international postage
The Australia Post spokesperson has also urged customers to consider delays when posting internationally.
"Customers buying from or sending overseas are encouraged to do so as early as they can, as there are often things outside of our control such as customs, Covid impacts and changes to services by overseas postal providers," they said.
"Due to a global shortage of aircraft and a significant reduction in passenger flights operating to Australia, postal operators around the world are experiencing limited international flight capacity."
"While Australia Post continues to accept all incoming international deliveries, some operators including the USPS (US Postal Service) have temporarily suspended some outgoing parcel services to a number of countries, including Australia, due to air freight capacity issues," the spokesperson said.
"We are closely monitoring efforts by the USPS to resume their service to Australia."
Parcel volumes show ‘no signs of slowing’ as 4,000 Christmas casuals brought in
Australia Post Executive General Manager, Business and Government Gary Starr said that preparations to cope with this year’s festive season are underway, as 4000 Christmas casual team members have been recruited.
“We’re seeing record parcel volumes with more than 5.9 million households shopping online a month – that’s more than half of all Australian households, and it’s showing no signs of slowing as we head into the online sales season and Christmas,” Mr Starr said.
“That is why we’ve planned ahead with extra air freight capacity, weekend deliveries and recruitment of thousands of new team members to ramp up our delivery services, parcel sorting and customer care, and we’ll be delivering right up until Christmas Eve.”
“We encourage people to make a note of these important delivery dates, because although we'll deliver items sent after these dates as quickly as we can, they may not arrive until after Christmas.”
To cope with increased demand, Australia Post has also recently announced the opening of a new $30 million processing facility in Adelaide, with a total $1 billion financial commitment to new processing facilities.
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