Australia Post to Deliver 120 Million Parcels This Peak

The national carrier is preparing for an eight per cent surge in volume through the 2026 November and December holiday season.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Transportation

Isometric editorial illustration of a neatly organized stack of cardboard shipping parcels in a minimalist warehouse. — Australia Post expects to handle over 120 million parcels during the 2026 peak season, marking an eight per cent annual increase. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you trust your local delivery services to handle record-breaking parcel volumes this holiday season?

Australia Post expects to handle more than 120 million parcels during the November and December 2026 peak period. This forecast represents an increase of over eight per cent compared to the 111 million parcels delivered during the same months in 2025.

Why it matters

The company is scaling its logistics capacity to manage the anticipated surge in e-commerce activity across the nation. These investments aim to maintain delivery standards for residents during the busiest shopping months of the year.

Australia Post has recruited 3,900 casual workers and added three Airbus A321 freighters to its network. The organisation also opened 10 new regional parcel facilities over the past year to support the projected volume increase.

The players

Australia Post

This government-owned corporation is responsible for providing postal services to residents and businesses throughout Australia.

Paul Graham

As the Chief Executive Officer of Australia Post, he oversees the strategic direction and operational performance of the national delivery network.

The details

To accommodate the heightened demand, the firm has integrated new air freight capacity serving the 24-hour terminal at Western Sydney International Airport. Additional infrastructure support includes ten recently opened facilities in regional towns, with another site currently under development in Morwell, Victoria.

September 2026: The first of three new freighter aircraft was introduced to the network.
27 October 2026: CEO Paul Graham provided an update on operations to Senate Estimates.
November and December 2026: The projected peak parcel delivery period for the national carrier.

Market Landscape

The expansion follows the long-term trend of Australian e-commerce parcel volumes, which have consistently driven seasonal hiring and infrastructure investment by the national carrier. By scaling air and regional ground capacity, the company aims to maintain its dominance in the competitive national logistics sector.

The expansion of facilities and fleet capacity is intended to ensure that shoppers receive their parcels on time during the busy holiday season. Customers in regional towns may see improved service speeds due to the opening of ten new local facilities across the country.

The takeaway

Consumers can assist the delivery network by ensuring orders are placed early to account for the heavy volume during the year-end peak. Planning gift purchases before the final holiday rush helps reduce the strain on logistical infrastructure and casual staff.