Austrian Post has opened its 3,000th postal outlet, a new parcel station installed outside a Eurospar store in Schwanenstadt. The company now operates 327 company-run branches, 1,353 postal partner locations, 57 self-service branches and 1,263 freestanding postal stations, describing this as the densest network in its history.
Walter Oblin, CEO of Austrian Post, said the milestone reflects the company’s push to combine in-person service with round-the-clock parcel pickup and drop-off. “Our branches, postal partners and postal stations combine personal on-site service with flexible 24/7 parcel pickup and drop-off,” he noted. “Together with bank99 and Yelllow, we see ourselves as a modern provider of essential services for people’s daily lives across Austria.”
Austrian government officials, including the Minister of Economic Affairs and the State Secretary for Digitalization, framed the expansion as an example of state-owned infrastructure investment and the integration of digital and physical postal services.
Marcus Wild, a member of Spar’s management board, said combining parcel pickup with grocery shopping locations makes daily errands more convenient for customers.
By the end of 2026, Austrian Post expects its network to exceed 3,100 postal stations, with plans to add roughly 10,000 additional parcel lockers annually starting in 2027. The company is also preparing to roll out a new generation of postal stations by year-end, equipped with payment terminals, label printers and integrated mailboxes, allowing customers to print labels, pay for postage and drop off parcels or pre-stamped letters at a single unit. Integration with Austria’s ID Austria digital identity system is also in development.
A recent Austrian Post survey found that 82% of respondents prefer automated parcel stations for picking up packages, ahead of post office branches (77%) and postal partners (72%). Around 40% of Austrians said they redirect parcels and online orders to a parcel station for pickup, with use said to be rising among people over 60.
The new Schwanenstadt location, part of a partnership with Spar launched in 2025, has more than 90 compartments and is powered by a rooftop photovoltaic system, making it fully energy independent. It is accessible 24 hours a day for parcel pickup and drop-off using pre-printed shipping or return labels.
In related news, Austrian Post to acquire Serbian parcel firm D Express, merge with City Express