Three Forks Voice: U.S. Senators ask USPS to reconsider decision to terminate air service

Last week, the United States Postal Service announced it would suspend air service to support priority and express mail in Montana. The decision did not sit well with Montana’s two U.S. Senators.

In his monthly Rural Press Call, U.S. Senator Jon Tester blasted the decision and urged Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to restore air service immediately.

“Montana isn’t exactly a small state. It takes a while to get across, and when you have to drive it, it delays, delays, delays. For those reasons, this is a wrong decision. It’s just another example of how the United States Postal Service is turning its back on rural America,” said Tester. “I will continue to push Postmaster DeJoy to restore air service immediately and provide certainty to Montanans across our state who really do rely on express mail for everything from prescriptions to paychecks. I’m going to continue to push Postmaster DeJoy to do the right thing. So far, he hasn’t, and it’s been a continual problem with him not understanding distance, rural America, or even the importance of the United States Postal Service.”

In a letter sent last week to DeJoy, U.S. Senator Steve Daines said hundreds of thousands of customers across Montana rely on air distribution services for timely mail delivery across vast distances.

He asked DeJoy to reconsider the decision.

“The USPS has a long-standing record of air distribution in Montana to deliver important parcels to rural customers across the country. Montanans who may live hundreds of miles from the nearest urban center rely on these services to receive their prescription medicines, pension payments, disability benefits, important bills, and logistical support to help run their small businesses,” said Daines. “I urge you to reconsider this decision and look forward to working together to find solutions to maintain consistent delivery and a robust Postal Service.”

In a letter to DeJoy, Tester said the USPS gave its longtime air service provider, Alpine Air, just one week’s notice that their contract would not be extended and that air service across Montana would be terminated.

“Alpine Air has partnered with USPS for over 30 years and employs 20 Montanans who work as pilots, mechanics, and support staff who have been critical in getting folks their mail quickly. The sudden decision to end their contract jeopardizes the future of the company and their employees and does not give them sufficient time to plan any major transition. In addition, the apparent hastiness of the decision raises obvious questions about how USPS could possibly have the staff and equipment necessary to a ground-based approach on such a short timeline,” said Tester.