Middle East Airfreight Disruption – Ongoing Impact on Cargo Movements
24 June 2025
Regional instability in the Middle East is currently causing major disruption to airfreight operations. The ongoing conflict has continued to affect activities significantly. While a phased ceasefire has been announced between Iran and Israel, the situation on the ground remains fluid, and airspace restrictions and airline suspensions are still widespread
Current Status
- Airspace closures remain in place over Qatar, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Syria, and Lebanon. The UAE has imposed intermittent closures as conditions shift, disrupting airfreight routes.
- Major airline suspensions with impact continue across the region. British Airways, Emirates, Etihad, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines, American Airlines, and others have either grounded flights or rerouted cargo services.
- A flight from Manchester to Doha diverted back to the UK yesterday following Iranian missile attacks on a U.S. base in Qatar. This highlights the unpredictable nature of the situation, affecting airfreight decisions.
Freight Impact
- Extended transit times due to rerouting via Egypt, Turkey, or the Caspian region affecting airfreight scheduling.
- Reduced cargo capacity with freighters operating under pressure and limited belly space available for airfreight.
- Higher rates, surcharges, and handling costs at diversion points impacting airfreight pricing.
- Ground handling delays and customs congestion at alternative hubs, further complicating airfreight processes.
Our Response
Our operations team is closely tracking the situation and working with carriers to manage disruption as effectively as possible. We’re actively reviewing alternative routing and doing our best to support time-critical shipments.
We understand this may affect ongoing or upcoming shipments. If you believe your cargo is impacted, or if you’re planning urgent movements into or out of the region, directly contact your account manager.
We appreciate your patience as we work through this evolving situation.
If you have urgent shipments or need to discuss airfreight rerouting options, please contact us today.