Notice about mail and shipping delays 9/12/01

Mail and shipping have slowed significantly as a result of yesterday's tragic attacks in New York City and Washington, DC. Mail is moving, but expect delays of 1,2 and more days.

The Department of Transportation was expected to announce at noon whether to resume air travel, but that announcement was cancelled. That means over 36,000 flights per day are grounded -- many of these carry mail and express.

Sources at one of the private carriers, say they expect the following flights to resume today or tomorrow:

- Military/Government. - Flights that were diverted yesterday to Canada from overseas will be allowed to connect to their original U.S. destinations. - Domestic passenger flights forced to land at interim locations. - Cargo flights.

There's been no word about when regular originating passenger flights will restart. Until flights do restart, long distance 1C and Priority Mail shipments especially are affected.

All major private express carriers have suspended service guarantees pending the restoration of the normal air ops.

Airborne and FedEx are reporting delivery delays, mostly 24-48 hours for express materials. UPS also reports delays but refused to give a duration. Airborne and FedEx have beefed up their ground networks, and UPS reports using it's existing ground network to the fullest. Carriers report service to the DC- area is mostly restored.

Service into and out of Manhattan by express carriers remains erratic because of traffic restrictions on the bridges and tunnels. However, USPS claims it's still moving mail and pickups/deliveries are being made in all but the most affected areas of lower Manhattan, according to a statement by PMG Jack Potter. Operations at Manhattan's Major Church Street Facility have been moved to the Joseph A. Farley Bldg. 10019.

USPS and private carriers are refusing to release ZIP Codes affected, but the World Trade Center was located in 10048.

Mail managers are generally not holding mail, they are tendering anything they can, except perishables.