Royal Mail Slashes Domestic Flights in Half on Its Path to Achieve Net-Zero by 2040

Royal Mail is making a bold environmental move by slashing its domestic flight routes by 50%. The decision is expected to eliminate a hefty 30,000 tonnes of CO2 each year — all while keeping pace with the ever-demanding customer expectation of next-day deliveries. As of April 5, 2025, the postal giant has cancelled 18 domestic routes, a reduction that started taking shape as early as July 2024. By the end of the previous year, 11 routes had already made their final journeys.

But what does the future hold for the company’s mail delivery? Instead of airborne transport, most of these journeys will shift to road vehicles. Royal Mail asserts that this change is greener and more reliable, ensuring their delivery promise isn’t compromised.

Leading the charge in sustainability, Royal Mail boasts the UK’s largest fleet of electric vehicles (EVs) — over 6,000. To tackle the more formidable challenge of electrifying its heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), the company is pivoting towards hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO). This eco-friendly fuel can cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90% compared to traditional diesel.

This massive reduction in air travel wasn’t possible without some key operational changes. New later start times at delivery offices across the UK are helping ensure parcels and letters can be moved overnight by road, freeing Royal Mail from its reliance on air transport.

However, next-day deliveries are not thoroughly grounded. The only domestic flights still in operation will be the backbone of the company’s Universal Service Obligation, ensuring next-day delivery to all 32 million UK addresses.

For Royal Mail, this move isn't just about reducing its carbon footprint — it's also about adapting to shifting consumer habits. In the past six years, the average parcel size handled by Royal Mail has grown by 30% as shoppers increasingly purchase larger items.

Royal Mail’s chief operating officer Alistair Cochrane said: “This is about delivering for the future. By moving away from air freight, we’re making Royal Mail greener, more efficient, and ready for the long term.”

This effort is crucial to Royal Mail's overarching goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2040. With a clear target, the company aims to cut its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% between 2020 and 2030 and reduce Scope 3 emissions by 25% in the same timeframe. The plan is verified under the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) Net-Zero Standard, showcasing Royal Mail's commitment to a greener future.