For instance, the share of First-Class Mail in the three-to-five-day delivery window traveling by air surged from 2% in fiscal 2025 to 50% by mid-fiscal 2026, per the report. In its response, USPS management defended the strategy, noting the contract permits adjustments for market demand shifts and that flying First-Class Mail has helped maintain a favorable pricing tier and boost service performance. Given the contract's lengthy term and persistent challenges in meeting minimum volumes without First-Class Mail, the Postal Service should evaluate its options, including whether the current deal remains the most efficient path forward, the report concluded.
