E-commerce leads to revolution for Russian Post, as mail goes sky-high with new planes

Two new Tu-204S cargo jets purchased by Russian Post have gone into service, as a direct result of surging e-commerce. Until now, the postal service has used cargo facilities on other air carriers, or rail. 

But it is now seen as more efficient and offering a better service to have their own 'airline'.

Director general Dmitry Strashnov explained: 'The launch of post aviation is a new step in development of postal logistics that will allow us to reduce delivery time to Far East and Extreme North.'

The initial services flew from Vnukovo airport in Moscow to Irkutsk and Anadyr, and from the capital city to Nizhnevartovsk and Yakutsk.

The internet is supposed to have reduced postal demand with e-communications but in fact it has led to a surge because of the scale of web purchases by people living in the east of Russia. 

The Tu-204S aircrafts can carry up to 30 tons of cargo and cover a distance of up to 3,800 kilometres before refuelling.

Aleksander Borisov, Minister of Communications in the Sakha Republic, was on hand to see 20 tons of post arrive in regional capital Yakutsk on the maiden flight.

'Over the past few years, Yakutia is among the top five regions per caoita buying on the internet,' he said. 'Compared to 2013, the amount of international correspondence has grown 10 times.' 

Director of Russian Post in the region, Alevtina Ignatiyeva, promised: 'Of course, delivery time will improve. 

'We're hoping that correspondence processing time will get even better once we have regular flights to Pacific Asia organised and when (the planned) logistics centre in Khabarovsk is open.'

The planes have been named Peter I and Yekaterina II after monarchs who contributed to the development of the Russian postal service.