Australia Post delivers record-breaking Christmas
Australia Post has recorded its biggest month ever in its 211 year history, with more than 52 million parcels delivered during December, an almost 20 per cent increase on the previous year.
The strong growth in online continued into December, with 19 days for the month where more than two million parcels were delivered across the country. During the month over 21 million customers were also served at Australia Post’s more than 4000 Post Offices, including regional and remote locations.
Making use of up to 20 dedicated freighters and additional cargo space on limited domestic passenger flights, Australia Post uplifted over 7400 tonnes of airfreight, up 76 per cent when compared to the same month last year, including more than 490 tonnes on the busiest night.
Acting chief executive Rodney Boys said while the organisation had predicted it would be Australia Post’s busiest Christmas ever, it exceeded expectations.
“There is no denying that online shopping grew strongly through 2020, and this reached a new level in December as millions of people chose to buy their Christmas gifts online,” said Mr Boys.
“Ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, social distancing and reduced domestic flights coupled with significantly higher parcel volumes, meant that delivering Christmas 2020 for all Australians was always going to be incredibly challenging."
Parcels volumes were buoyed in December as Australians bought up big on food and liquor, fashion, and home and garden products up 50 per cent, 37 per cent and 36 per cent respectively compared to December 2019. Fashion accessories, adventure and sporting items and books also proved popular with strong growth compared to November.
How many parcels did you order delivered this Christmas? Did all your gifts arrive in time?
Too bad they cannot do as well with letters