Guernsey's iconic 'mail plane' takes its final flight after 50 years
Guernsey Post will stop its long-running airmail service this summer after nearly 50 years. The final flight, known locally as the 'mail plane', will depart on Friday 5 July. Rising costs have forced the switch to sea transport for all standard post between the island and the UK mainland.
The current system, in place since the 1970s, relied on airlines like Aurigny Air Services and Blue Islands to fly mail directly between Guernsey Airport and Southampton. The 130-mile route took around 45 to 50 minutes, with no stops in between. But the combined cost of an in-bound ferry and an out-bound plane has become unsustainable.
From July, all standard in-bound and out-bound letters and parcels will travel by sea instead. The change will also affect staff hours, with adjustments being discussed with employees and union representatives. Guernsey Post has promised new competitively priced parcel options as part of the shift. For urgent items, the company is working to secure a daily service using commercial flight partners. The move to sea transport is expected to create efficiencies, allowing for improvements in parcel delivery services.
The end of the mail plane marks a significant shift in how Guernsey's post reaches the UK. Standard letters and parcels will now rely entirely on the island's existing sea freight network. Meanwhile, urgent mail will still have the option to travel by air through third-party carriers.
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