Posted on: Friday, October 12, 2001

The September 11th attack
FAA eases rules on mail aboard passenger flights

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

The Federal Aviation Administration has eased restrictions for carrying U.S. mail on passenger flights, a move that should speed up delivery of some packages.

The FAA yesterday announced that express, registered and international mail will be permitted on commercial flights. The agency had banned all but letter mail on passenger flights because of the Sept. 11 hijackings and terrorist attacks.

"For people who rely on medical supplies and businesses needing urgent deliveries or sending live shipments, this will be welcome news," said Honolulu District manager Edward Broglio.

However, priority mail weighing a pound or more is still prohibited from being transported on commercial flights. Those packages will continue to be placed on chartered cargo flights, which fly six times a week to Hawai'i.

Postal Service spokeswoman Felice Broglio said priority packages that used to take about three days to be delivered are now taking three to five days.