DAYTON — A cult favorite among last-minute mailers in the Dayton area, the United States Postal Service branch at Dayton International Airport is scaling back operations and may close if it doesn't see more business.

The branch at 3571 Concorde Drive was almost always open to service airport travelers and area residents, providing full service 24 hours a day Monday-Friday, open till 11 p.m. on Saturdays and from 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. And with a last collection time of 11 p.m. during the week, it was almost never too late to get something in the mail today.

But all that's changing this 4th of July weekend.

The branch will be closed for the holiday and beginning July 7, the new retail hours are 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday, closed on weekends and holidays. Back room and processing area jobs at the branch are ending now.

Dayton Postmaster Darryl Myers said none of the 17 full-time workers at the branch will lose their jobs. Two will remain for the retail operation, with the rest absorbed through relocation in the Dayton area and attrition.

Myers said the economy affects the postal service as it does any business. The airport branch offered extended retail hours and handled overflow work from other offices. That overflow no longer exists and retail traffic has been light.

"People are buying and mailing fewer packages," he said. "Obviously, the volume and flow of mail is money for us. There will be an immediate fuel savings from vehicles going back and forth to the airport. And the flow is such now that other offices can handle their own volume."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2235 or vwarren@DaytonDailyNews.com.