Authority to contract for mail transportation

§ 6402. Authority to contract for mail transportation (a) The Postmaster General may contract for necessary domestic or foreign transportation of mail, except that— (1) transportation of mail by railroad shall be procured as provided in chapter 95 of this title and otherwise provided by aw; (2) transportation of mail by air shall be obtained in accordance with chapter 97 of this title; (3) highway post office service shall be obtained in accordance with chapter 99 of this title; 74 Stat. 697 (4) delivery and collection service may not be established or extended under a star route contract if a majority of the patrons on the route has been served by a rural delivery route for which a qualified rural carrier can be obtained; and (5) if possible, mail consigned between an airport and a post office at which there is Government-owned motor vehicle service, shall be transported by Government-owned motor vehicles, when the distance is not more than 35 miles. (b) Subsection (a) (5) of this section does not prohibit the transportation of mail by helicopter or similar aircraft between airports and post offices.