INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL AIR (ICAIR) TRANSPORTATION SERVICES (ICAIR27)

USPS is seeking U.S. and foreign air carriers to provide International Commercial Air (ICAIR) Transportation Services for international civilian, Department of War military, and Department of State diplomatic mail.  Military mail is mail sent to and from troops abroad, while diplomatic mail is mail sent to and from embassies and diplomats abroad.

The Postal Service will be soliciting transportation for movement of mail across approximately 2,300 unique lanes worldwide. Each of these lanes is classified as prograde, retrograde, or intra-theater delivery service (IDS).

• Prograde lanes are lanes that originate in the United States and have a final destination in another country. Mail is primarily consigned from International Service Centers (ISCs) located at the following airports, but other origins may be used:
  • John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York NY (JFK)
  • Miami International Airport, Miami FL (MIA)
  • O'Hare International Airport, Chicago IL (ORD)
  • Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles CA (LAX)
• Retrograde lanes are lanes that originate in a foreign country and have a final destination in the United States, primarily one of the ISCs listed above.
• IDS lanes are lanes that originate in a foreign country and also have a final destination in a foreign country.

A solicitation for these services will be issued in accordance with the Postal Service's Supplying Principles and Practices and 39 U.S. Code § 5402. The contracts resulting from this solicitation will be issued for services to begin August 7, 2027.

Carriers who are interested in providing services to USPS are asked to provide the following information:

• Company Name, Address, and website
• Name, phone number, and email for the primary contact person
• A copy of the document authorizing it to conduct business
  • For certificated air carriers, this authorization will be in the form of an FAA Air Carrier Certificate, issued under 14 CFR Part 121.
  • For foreign air carriers, a permit issued under Section 402 of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958.
  • For foreign air carriers not servicing points in the United States, alternate proof of authorization (e.g., a certificate from their home country) may be submitted

This information and any questions should be sent to Jeremy Hancock at Jeremy.B.Hancock@USPS.gov no later than August 14, 2026.