Purpose: Learn how Bank Holidays and major events will impact carrier pick-ups and deliveries across different markets, so you can plan your shipments efficiently and avoid potential delays.
Important reminders for all markets
- Public holidays can cause delays in pick-ups, deliveries, and customer communication.
- Inform your customers in advance about possible delays.
- Plan your logistics early to minimise disruptions during bank holidays.
Important: Due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East, carriers may experience operational disruptions that could affect international shipping. This may result in delivery delays, temporary service suspensions, or shipments being placed on hold for certain destinations in the region.
Additional emergency, conflict, fuel, or surge surcharges may apply to shipments on specific routes. For more information about possible additional costs, please consult the carrier-specific surcharge articles in our Help Center.
UPS Surge Emergency Fee
Due to market conditions and the ongoing situation in the Middle East, UPS has introduced a temporary Surge Emergency Fee for selected international air shipments. The fee applies only to specified origins, destinations, services, and trade lanes.
As of the UPS update dated 3 July 2026, affected lanes include Israel, the United Arab Emirates, India, selected Middle East and Asian destinations, China, Hong Kong, Macau, and selected Asia-Pacific markets.
The fee may apply to the following UPS international air services:
- Worldwide Express
- Express Saver
- Express Plus
- Expedited
- Midday
- Express Freight
The surcharge is generally calculated per kilogram using the shipment's billable weight. The applicable amount depends on the origin, destination, and currency, and UPS may change or withdraw the fee at any time.
Before creating a shipment, check the relevant UPS Surcharges article for your shipping country and the latest UPS service alerts to confirm whether the fee applies.
We recommend checking the latest updates directly on the carrier’s website before creating shipments to the Middle East. Carriers regularly publish service alerts and operational updates that may impact shipping routes, transit times, or service availability.
Please note that Shipment Protection coverage is currently not available for parcels shipped to Middle East destinations. Learn more.
We have gathered some of the carrier links below:
- Bpost - Homepage banner
- Chronopost - Flash infos
- Colissimo (La Poste) - Local and international information
- DHL – Middle East crisis situation updates
- DPD DE - Emergency Fuel Surcharge
- Evri UK - Service status
- FedEx – Service alerts
- Parcelforce - Service alerts
- PostAT - Country-specific information
- PostNL - International Service alerts
- Poste Delivery - Operational updates
- Royal Mail – International incident bulletin
- Royal Mail – Service updates
- SEUR - Information of interest
- UPS – Service alerts
Market-specific Carrier Updates
Spain
All carriers
📍04-02-2026 — Severe weather conditions Malaga and Cadiz
Impact: Pick-ups and deliveries may be delayed due to severe weather conditions and safety measures announced by regional authorities.
The Government of Andalusia has issued additional safety measures following orange and red weather warnings from AEMET for parts of Malaga and Cadiz.
- High-risk populations are being notified via the ES-Alert system
- Residents are advised to avoid unnecessary travel
- Classes have been suspended in educational centers in the affected areas
Carrier operations
Correos Express has confirmed that, as their facilities are currently located outside the highest-risk zones, they will attempt to operate as normally as possible whenever weather conditions allow. The safety of staff and partners remains the top priority, and operations may be adjusted to avoid unnecessary risks. Other carriers will likely follow similar protocols.
A further status update on unloading, sorting, and distribution is expected.
Official sources
- AEMET weather warnings: View warnings
- Andalusian Regional Government announcement: Read more
Correos Express:
- May 1st: National holiday (Labour Day) – No pick-ups or deliveries across Spain.
- May 2nd: Community of Madrid holiday – No pick-ups or deliveries in the Madrid region; regular service elsewhere.
- May 15th: San Isidro Festival – Public holiday in Madrid city and parts of the Community of Madrid. No pick-ups or deliveries in Madrid city; service disruptions possible in surrounding areas.
Italy
All carriers
📍February 2026 – Winter Olympics 2026
Due to the Winter Olympic Games 2026, temporary traffic restrictions will be in place in several areas in Italy. These restrictions may cause delivery and pick-up delays with local and national carriers.
Please note that disruptions may occur throughout the duration of the Winter Olympics.
What’s impacted?
-
Milan February 2nd - 5th, 2026
- ZIP codes: 20121, 20122, 20123
- Total circulation ban in the city center for vehicles and pedestrians during special events
-
Other affected areas include:
- Assago (20057)
- Rho (20017)
- Sesto San Giovanni (20099)
- Villa di Tirano (23030)
- Tirano (23037)
- Sernio (23030)
- Lovero (23030)
- Vervio (23030)
- Tovo di Sant’Agata (23030)
- Mazzo di Valtellina (23030)
- Grosotto (23034)
- Grosio (23033)
- Sondalo (23035)
- Valdisotto (23030)
- Valfurva (23030)
- Valdidentro (23038)
- Bormio (23032)
- Livigno (23041)
GLS
📍22–26 January 2026 – Severe weather disruptions (Red Alert)
Due to extreme weather conditions (red alert) affecting parts of southern Italy, severe delays in both pick-ups and deliveries are expected.
The following regions are impacted:
- Calabria
- Sicily
- Sardinia
According to communication from GLS Italy, several depots are currently affected:
| Depot code | Location | Status |
|---|---|---|
| CT01 | Siracusa | Hold at depot – pick-up working |
| CX | Belpasso | Hold at depot – closed |
| OW01 | Nuoro | Hold at depot – pick-up working |
| RG | Ragusa | Hold at depot – pick-up working |
While carriers are taking measures to maintain service continuity, further delays cannot be excluded during this period.
🔗 For more context on the situation, see the related news coverage:
Three Italian regions under red alert as Storm Harry hits southern Italy.
United Kingdom
Royal Mail
📍2–4 October 2026 — Pick-up and delivery delays in Glasgow due to the Great Scottish Run
Due to the Great Scottish Run in Glasgow, road closures and traffic management in the city centre may cause delays to Royal Mail pick-ups and deliveries throughout the weekend.
Affected area
- Glasgow: postcodes G1, G2, G3, G4 and G5
We recommend taking these potential disruptions into account when planning shipments to or from the affected areas.
📍11–13 September 2026 — Pick-up and delivery delays in Stirling due to BBC Radio 2 in the Park
Due to BBC Radio 2 in the Park in Stirling, major road closures and heavy traffic around Stirling City Park may cause delays and access restrictions for Royal Mail pick-ups and deliveries.
Affected area
- Stirling: postcodes FK8 1 and FK8 2
Road closure times
- Friday 11 September: 12:00–00:00
- Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September: 08:00–00:00
DPD
Out of Home network change from 5 October 2026
From 5 October 2026, all DPD Out of Home (OOH) services, including Ship to Shop and Return to Shop, will transition to a deferred 2–3 day service.
The following conditions apply:
- Maximum weight per parcel: 15 kg
- Maximum parcel size: 46 × 46 × 61 cm
- OOH parcels must be segregated into DPD-supplied green sacks.
Geopolitical situation
Due to the ongoing geopolitical situation in the Middle East, global oil markets have been significantly impacted. This has led to a sharp increase in fuel prices, particularly diesel, over a short period of time.
As a result, DPD UK has introduced a conflict surcharge of £0.15 per parcel. This surcharge is intended to offset the rising operational costs caused by these fuel price increases.
DPD UK has indicated that this measure is necessary despite efforts to minimise the impact. These efforts include the use of existing fuel reserves and an increased deployment of electric vehicles within their network.
Netherlands
DPD
📍 21-04-2026 - DPD Spring Holidays & Pentecost Pick-up Schedule Update
DPD has announced adjusted services during the upcoming spring public holidays. On certain days, standard pick-up services will be limited, and for central planning customers (truck collections), pick-ups will only be available on request.
You can review the full spring schedule here: Download schedule.
DPD confirms that regular service applies on Saturdays that are not public holidays.
To manage increased volumes around Pentecost, DPD will offer additional pick-up options on Saturday, May 23 and Monday, May 25, 2026. Shipments collected on these days will be processed on Monday and delivered in the Netherlands on Tuesday. This aims to spread volume and reduce delays in the following days.
Customers can request a pick-up for these dates via the following form before May 8, 2026: Request form.
Important:
- Submitting a request does not guarantee a pick-up.
- DPD will confirm in week 21 whether the request is approved, including the scheduled date and time window.
- Submit a separate form per pick-up address.
What information is required in the request form?
- Company name and address details
- Number of euro pallet spaces to reserve
- Preferred time window (10:00–13:00 or 13:00–16:00)
- Contact email and account manager name
- Note: It is not possible to request alternative time windows via the comments field
For questions or coordination, DPD advises contacting your account manager.
📍08-01-2026 - Disruptions due to weather conditions (snow)
DPD has informed us that no pickups will take place on Thursday 08-01-2026.
Belgium
📍9 & 12 October 2026 — Strike action in Belgium
Strike action in Belgium may affect carrier pick-ups and deliveries in October.
Friday, 9 October: A national interprofessional demonstration is planned. Delays and disruptions to the collection, processing and delivery of shipments may occur.
Monday, 12 October: A public-sector strike is planned. Further disruptions and delays to carrier operations may occur.
Further strike action may also take place on Monday, 23 November 2026. Please note that this date has not yet been officially confirmed.
We recommend taking these potential disruptions into account when planning shipments to or from Belgium and informing recipients about possible delays.
📍15-08-2026, 26-12-2026 & 02-01-2027 — DPD Belgium: No Saturday service
DPD Belgium will not operate Saturday services on the following dates due to public holidays:
- Saturday 15 August 2026
- Saturday 26 December 2026
- Saturday 2 January 2027
📍12-03-2026 — Nationwide strike
There will be a nationwide strike in Belgium on March 12th. It's not certain that the backlog will be fully cleared on Friday, March 13th. Please be aware of delays during this time. The effects might be felt until Monday (March 16th) or even Tuesday (March 17th).
France
All carriers
📍25–28 September 2026 — Pick-up and delivery disruptions due to the visit of Pope Leo XIV
Due to the visit of Pope Leo XIV to France, traffic restrictions in Paris and Metz may cause disruptions to carrier pick-ups and deliveries.
Paris region
- 25 September: Pick-ups and deliveries may be impacted in postal codes 75001, 75004, 75005, 75006, 75007, 75008, 75016, 75017 and 93200.
- 26 September: Pick-ups and deliveries may be impacted in postal codes 75008, 75016 and 75017.
Metz
On 28 September, pick-ups and deliveries may be impacted in Metz (57000), particularly in the city centre and certain areas of the metropolitan community.
We recommend taking these potential disruptions into account when planning shipments to or from the affected areas.