Overview

• Deutsche Post, Germany's national postal carrier, has ceased using domestic flights for transporting letters, a practice that lasted nearly 63 years.
• The decision is part of efforts to reduce carbon emissions, with road transportation expected to lower CO2 emissions by over 80% for the affected routes.
• The change reflects the declining urgency and volume of letter mail, as well as a shift towards more environmentally sustainable practices.
• New draft legislation aims to ease delivery time pressures on Deutsche Post, proposing that 95% of letters be delivered by the third working day instead of the current next-day delivery requirement.
• Domestic mail flights began in September 1961 but have seen a significant decline in volume and destinations since the mid-1990s.