Royal Mail Cuts Saturday Second-Class Deliveries

Royal Mail has received regulatory approval from Ofcom to end Saturday second-class letter deliveries, moving to an alternate weekday schedule starting July 28, in response to declining letter volumes and rising costs. The reform is expected to save Royal Mail between £250 million and £425 million per year, with Ofcom urging these savings be used to enhance delivery performance. First-class letters will continue to be delivered Monday to Saturday, while second-class mail must now meet a relaxed target of 95% arriving within three working days and a new mandate that 99% must not be more than two days late. These changes come after Royal Mail’s acquisition by Czech billionaire Daniel Křetínský, the first instance of foreign ownership in the company's history. Ofcom is also reviewing the affordability of stamps amid rising costs. Both union leaders and Ofcom emphasize that further improvements depend on the successful implementation of these reforms.