Swiss Post Named ‘Best Post in the World’ for the Fifth Consecutive Time

On October 9, postal companies around the world celebrate World Post Day. Swiss Post has once again claimed the top spot for the fifth consecutive time and is named the ‘best post in the world’. The Universal Postal Union announced this in its annual study, which analyzes how well postal companies are internationally connected. Using the example of postal shipments leaving Switzerland by air, Swiss Post demonstrates the importance of international cooperation and how postal companies worldwide contribute significantly to safety in air traffic.

(Bern) Transporting goods and information from A to B: This is in the DNA of postal companies worldwide, whether through physical or digital means. Since 1969, the member states of the Universal Postal Union have celebrated World Post Day on October 9 to recognize the importance of postal services. The Universal Postal Union (UPU) regulates international cooperation among postal authorities. What ‘cooperation among postal authorities’ can concretely mean is illustrated by Fabrizio Simona, Deputy Head of Corporate Security at Swiss Post. He advocates for ensuring that no danger arises from packages sent out by the Post.

‘Postal traffic is a special case’

Thousands of packages and letters arrive daily at Zurich and Geneva airports or leave Switzerland via the same route. About 15 percent of all postal shipments leaving Switzerland are transported by air. For these shipments, Swiss Post is responsible for safety. ‘For the Post, the strictest international rules apply,’ says Fabrizio Simona. He explains: ‘There are four groups traveling in the air: passengers, their luggage, cargo, and the post. The latter is a special case.’ Due to postal confidentiality, Swiss Post does not know the contents of a package, nor the sender or recipient personally. Unlike freight companies, Swiss Post does not package the shipments itself. Therefore, stricter safety regulations apply to the Post. For this reason, customers are not allowed to send dangerous goods via post abroad. Dangerous goods include, for example, loose lithium batteries, corrosive and flammable liquids, as well as alcohol-containing perfumes or explosive materials like fireworks. Swiss Post carefully monitors this, X-raying all packages and small parcels at Zurich and Geneva airports, thus ensuring safety in the air. A fire in the cargo hold during a flight at an altitude of over 10 kilometers can have devastating consequences.

Supporting online trade, but safety comes first!

Many postal shipments leaving Switzerland by air travel in the cargo hold of passenger aircraft. ‘We must ensure that our shipments pose no danger to air travelers or the crew. At the same time, we want to be a reliable partner for the growing online trade. This requires careful consideration,’ says Fabrizio Simona. Therefore, he represents Switzerland in the ‘UPU Dangerous Goods Working Group’ – a working group of the Universal Postal Union and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Also involved are the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA). They all advocate for a common understanding of safety regarding postal shipments in aviation.

How must certain batteries be packaged to still be allowed to be sent by post? When and where have there been violations of transport regulations? What can the Post learn from this? Or how can postal companies better sensitize their customers to ensure that they always declare goods correctly? Correct goods declaration is important. For example, leaking corrosive liquids from a package can cause severe injuries to employees who come into contact with them. Such and many other questions occupy the working group participants every year to prevent such incidents. In this way, postal companies pull together and contribute to safety in air traffic – worldwide. ‘Together, one is known to be the strongest and safest,’ says Fabrizio Simona. ‘We must be able to rely on foreign postal companies to conduct the same controls and sensitize their customers equally.’

CEO Cirillo Dedicates Title to Employees

On World Post Day, postal companies celebrate international cooperation. In this context, the UPU publishes its annual ranking of the best postal companies in the world. It measures how reliable the postal service is in a country, how well it is internationally connected, how relevant its products are for the population in the country, and how innovative and sustainable the respective postal company is. Once again, in 2021, Swiss Post is named the ‘best post in the world’. This marks the fifth consecutive time it has achieved first place since 2017. Johannes Cramer, Head of Logistics Services at Swiss Post and a member of the Executive Board, will receive the award today at the headquarters of the Universal Postal Union in Bern.

Roberto Cirillo, CEO of Swiss Post, is proud of the approximately 54,000 employees and thanks them via video message: ‘The professionalism you show in your work every day is greatly appreciated by Swiss Post. With your commitment, you ensure the relevance of our mission for millions of people and for our economy every day. As a driving force for a modern Switzerland, you give your all every day!’

More about the annual ranking of postal companies by the Universal Postal Union can be found at: www.upu.int

Photo: © Swiss Post