International Incident Bulletin

Start date: 9 August 2021
Latest update: 23 August 2021
End date: Ongoing
Incident: No available route

Original Incident
There is currently no route to Afghanistan as carriers have cancelled flights since Monday 16th August 2021.

Start date: 6 February 2018
Latest update: 7 December 2022
End date: Ongoing
Incident: Runway repair work

Please Note: Mail to the Falkland Islands is unaffected.

Original Incident
Air transportation to Ascension Island & St Helena is greatly reduced due to essential runway repairs. Unfortunately, given the location of the islands, there isn't a viable alternative to air transport. Customers can continue to send mail, but there'll be significant delays in the delivery of all products.

Latest Update
We have been notified that air transportation to Ascension Island & St Helena is greatly reduced. Unfortunately, given the location of the countries, there is no viable alternative which would arrive any earlier. Customers can continue to send mail but there will be significant delays in the delivery of all products. Please note that mail to the Falkland Island is not affected. Last flight closed on the 21st of October as planned. Next flight is to close on the 8th of December 2022. Subsequent flights are planned to close by the 22nd January 2023. The situation is likely to be ongoing until Airport/runway rebuilding work is complete.

Start date: 10 December 2022
Latest Update: 13 December 2022
End date: Ongoing
Incident: Fire damage

Latest Update
Aruba Post has informed that there was a fire at the international mail processing centre in Oranjestad during the night of 9 December and the early morning of 10 December 2022.As a result of the fire and damage, the building has been temporarily closed and will not be operational for several days. Items destined for Aruba may be delayed during this period as a result.

Start date: 12 March 2020
Latest Update: 4 November 2022
End date: Ongoing
Incident: Airline capacity

Latest Update
The movement of items into Australia continues to be subject to airfreight supply and performance difficulties which is resulting in the delivery standards currently being outside the current advertised delivery specification. Royal Mail continue to work to find alternate capacity and on work on short term performance improvement activities.

Start date: 11 April 2022
Latest Update: 11 April 2022
End date: Ongoing
Incident: Service availability

Latest Update
We are still despatching postal items to Belarus. We are continually monitoring the situation and will provide an update if there are any changes to our service moving forward.

Start date: 6 March 2023
Latest update:9 March 2023
End date:To be advised
Incident: Industrial Action

Belgian Post have advised that Belgian Unions have called a 24 hour strike on Friday 10th March 2023. Delays are likely to be experienced during this period

Start date: 28 January 2020
Latest update: 28 October 2022
End date: Ongoing
Incident: Operational delays

Latest Update
Items destined for China may still be experiencing delays due to operational delays within China. We are continuing to work with China post and will provide an update once the situation has improved.

Start date:7 February 2023
Latest update:14 February 2023
Incident: Strikes

Latest Update

Finnish Post have advised us that the Transport Workers Union (AKT) and the Postal and Logistics Union (PAU) have announced a series of strikes scheduled for February 15-21. As a result delays are likely during this period 

Start date: 17 October 2022
Latest update: 31 January 2023
End date: Ongoing
Incident 1: Coronavirus

Latest Update
Deutsche Post of Germany has informed that due to increasing COVID-19 infections among staff, it is currently encountering challenges in delivering items within promised delivery timescales.These challenges are mainly at local or regional levels rather than nationwide but may affect different parts of Germany with delays. As a result, minor delays may be experienced for items destined for Germany until further notice.

Incident 2: Industrial Action

Deutsche Post have advised of some localised Industrial Action which may result in delays to delivery.

Start date: 12 March 2023
Latest update:15 March 2023
Incident: Industrial Action

The Hellenic Post Office Greece have informed us that the Association of Civil Servants has called a strike on the 16th March for 24 hours. Air Traffic controllers will also take part in this. Delays are likely to be experienced during this period

Start date: 19 October 2022
Latest update: 19 October 2022
End date: Ongoing
Incident: Backlog

Latest Update
Due to a carrier backlog at the Transit hub, Guatemala Post have advised that the journey time to Guatemala may be extended, and customers may experience delays.

Start date: 16 September 2021
Latest Update: 1 September 2022
End date: Ongoing
Incident: Customs delays

Latest Update
Our service to Ireland is operating as normal. However, items that require the payment of import taxes by the recipient may take longer to be delivered as payment is required before items are released from Irish customs.

Please note: Delivered Duties Unpaid items sent to Ireland are handled as follows:
•Where a mobile number and /or email is provided, the recipient will receive a text and / or email and a letter with the amount of tax to pay plus An Post’s processing fee.
•Where just the address has been provided, the recipient will receive a letter.

In both situations the recipient will receive instructions on how to pay and will have 16 working days to make the payment before the item is returned. The pay by date is included in the customer notification.All items are held in the Dublin Mail Centre Campus before being released, once payment is received. If payment is not received by the payment due date or the customer rejects the item then it is returned to sender.

IOSS HS Code Restrictions
The Irish Custom authority have notified us that they have relaxed their import controls on certain goods and HS codes. Customers sending items to Ireland via IOSS are advised to check the latest restricted HS Tariff codes implemented by Irish Customs. To access the list of restricted HS Tariff codes, please visit our Ireland Page.

Start date: 27 March 2023
Latest update: 28 March 2023
Incident: National Strike

Latest Update

Israeli Post have advised that the workers union the nationwide strike ended on the 28th March 2023. Short delays may still be experienced whilst the post recovers 

Start date: 13 March 2023
Latest update:14 March 2023
End date: 
Incident: Industrial Action

Poste Italiane have informed us that a 24 hour strike has been called for the 17th March by Unions of the Airport Handlers and all other Airport personnel. Disruption is expected and delays are likely to be observed during and immediately after the strike

Start date: 2 July 2021
Latest Update: 15 December 2021
End date: Ongoing
Incident: Infrequent Service

Latest Update
Connecting flights to Kiribati have been available again since the 15th of December. However, please note this service is infrequent and therefore customers should expect items to take between 2-3 months to reach their final destination.

No service since July 2014.

Start date: 1 December 2022
Latest Update: 17 January 2023
End date: Ongoing
Incident: Coronavirus

Latest Update
Macao Post have advised that the situation regarding Coronavirus has improved and postal operations have returned to normal.

Start date: 12 December 2021
Latest Update: 6 January 2023
End date: 6 January 2023
Incident: Coronavirus/ Flooding

Incident one
Post Malaysia has updated that both Covid-19 prevention measures and the impacts of the heavy rainful have now ceased. All operations within Post Malaysia have now resumed.

Start date: 4 March 2023
Latest update:16 March 2023
Incident: Cyclone Freddy 

Malawi Post have advised that Cyclone Freddy has hit the Southern Region with very strong winds, floods and landslides. Many businesses have closed and infrastructure has been severely affected. A situation of force majeure has been declared and delays are to be expected throughout this period

Start date: 13 January 2022
Latest Update: 16 December 2022
End date: Ongoing
Incident: Customs data/Industrial action

Incident one
Malta Post has provided an update that in order to avoid delays, it is important that complete and accurate electronic customs data is provided along with customs documents (CN22/23). Provision of the recipient’s mobile phone number (including country code) and/or recipient email address in electronic data is also recommended to assist in timely delivery of items. Items that do not fulfil these requirements will be manually processed by Malta Post which is likely to lead to delays. In some cases, items will be held until the recipient can be contacted in order to provide any missing information and/or in the case of certain products any supplementary documentation that may be required.

Incident two
Malta Post has informed that the industrial dispute with its delivery staff has come to an end. Postal services have therefore resumed as normal, effective from 1 December 2022.

Start date: 24 February 2022
Latest Update: 10 March 2022
End date: To be advised
Incident: Airspace availability

Original Incident
Due to the situation in neighbouring Ukraine, we have been advised that Moldovan airspace is closed. We are working with our postal and transportation partners to put in place alternative routes. We are still accepting items for Moldova but please be advised that there may be short delays to the delivery of your item.

Latest Update
An alternative transit route is in place for Moldova. However as this is a non-direct route, please be advised that there may be short delays to the delivery of your item.

Start date: 15 October 2021
Latest Update: 4 November 2021
End date: Ongoing
Incident: No route available

Latest Update
Our 3rd Party Postal Operator has temporary suspended transit service to Nauru since 22nd October 2021. No alternative route has been found for this destination at present. As result, despatch to this destination is suspended, until alternative route can be identified. Items that have been sent that are currently in transit will be returned to senders.

Start date: 31 January 2023
Latest Update: 23 March 2023
End date: Ongoing
Incident: Torrential Rain / Cyclone

Incident one

NZ Post have informed us that torrential rain across the Auckland region has caused widespread flooding. The severe weather conditions in Auckland and surrounding regions are affecting the delivery and collection of all mail items and a state of emergency has been declared. Further weather-related disruption is expected in the coming days.

All international inbound/outbound mail handling and processing is affected as extreme flooding and road closures into and out of Auckland have impacted NZ Post’s ability to transport mail and complete deliveries in many areas. As a result, delays should be expected

Incident two

NZ Post have informed us that a national state of emergency was lifted on the 3rd March with a number of areas now in the recovery stage. Local states of emergency were lifted in the Hawkes Bay and Tairawhiti regions on the 14th March however infrastructure damage remains and this will impact NZ Post’s ability to transport mail and complete deliveries in some areas. As a result, delays may still be experienced

Start date: 2 July 2021
Latest Update: 28 April 2022
End date: Ongoing
Incident: Coronavirus

Latest Update
Panama Post has updated that all of their processing facilities are operating under normal working hours but subject to special measures established by the Ministry of Health of Panama. As result it is unable to guarantee delivery standards until further notice.

Start date: 7 December 2022
Latest Update: 27 January 2023
End date: Ongoing
Incident: State of emergency

Latest Update
Peruvian Post has informed that their postal services may be disrupted due to civil unrest and protests since the 7th December. The unrest has disrupted transportation and access to certain areas. As a result delays may be experienced during this period.

Start date: 28 February 2022
Latest Update: 11 April 2022
End date: Ongoing
Incident: Service availability

Latest Update
We are still despatching postal items to Russia. We are continually monitoring the situation and will provide an update if there are any changes to our service moving forward.

Start date: 26 March 2020
Latest Update: 1 March 2022
End date: Ongoing
Incident: Coronavirus

Latest Update
Samoa Post has updated that there is currently only one flight per week to and from New Zealand on which Samoa Post can send and receive mail. All items are subject to a three-days quarantine before being processed and delivered. As result, Samoa Post has advised that delays are to be expected.

Start date: 11 March 2020
Latest Update: 3 March 2022
End date: Ongoing
Incident: Coronavirus

Latest Update
Singapore Post has updated that restrictions remain in place to limit spread of COVID-19. Signatures are not collected at delivery, items of letter box size will be deposited in letter box, and items larger than letter-box size, will be delivered to parcel locker stations (POP stations), post offices or collection points for collection by the addressee.

No service since October 1991.

No service since December 2012.

Start date: 10 December 2022
Latest update: 30 January 2023
End date: To be advised
Incident: Flood

Latest Update
Thai Post has informed that the rain in the Southern part of Thailand has now ceased. All postal operations have resumed as normal 

Start date: 30 January 2023
Latest update:9 February 2023
Incident: Earthquake

Latest Update

Turkish Post has informed that two large earthquakes have hit the Southern and South Eastern regions of the country on the 6th February and a state of emergency has been declared.

This will severely impact mail operations and delays are to be expected across all affected areas

Start date: 2 July 2021
Latest update:15 December 2021
End date: To be advised
Incident: Infrequent Service

Connecting flights to Tuvalu have been available again since the 15th of December. However, please note this service is infrequent and therefore customers should expect items to take between 2-3 months to reach their final destination.

Start date: 24 February 2022
Latest update:28 October 2022
End date: To be advised
Incident: Service availability

Latest Update
We continue to make regular mail despatch to Ukraine transiting via our Postal Partners. Ukraine Post has updated that the country’s infrastructure has suffered severe damage. The attacks on the power grid and local energy facilities are necessitating rolling power cuts lasting from one to four hours. In some cases, following a direct missile strike, power may be cut off for several days in certain areas. In areas without active hostilities, all Ukrposhta post offices will remain open. In places with up to 24 hours power outage, Ukrposhta employees will hand out postal items and pay out money orders and upload the delivery data into the system at a later stage, once power and Internet access are restored. Sorting facilities are equipped with electricity generators to ensure uninterrupted work and maintain normal customs and sorting procedures. However, operationally there may be delays. Therefore, delays should continue to be expected for items destined to Ukraine until further notice.

No mail service to Donets 83-87, Luhansk 91-94 Crimea 95-98 and Sevestapol 99 since 2014.

Start date: 13 February 2023
Latest Update: 9 March 2023
End date: Ongoing
Incident: Tropical Cyclone

Vanuatu Post have advised that a State of Emergency has been declared for the whole country in the wake of two cyclones which have struck the country. The state of emergency is expected to last for at least 6 months. Postal operations will continue throughout by delays should be expected 

An alternative route is now available for Venezuela and has been available from 21st January 22.

Start date: 28 December 2022
Latest update:9 February 2023
End date:9 February 2023
Incident: Winter storm

Latest Update

USPS has advised that mail operations have resumed following the snow storm. Some delivery delays may still be experienced due to local conditions.

No service since March 2015.