Impact on Ocean & Air Freight Operations
We would like to provide an important update regarding the ongoing escalation involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, and its impact on global ocean and air freight operations.
Ocean Freight Update
Current Developments
Shipping lines operating services from Pakistan to the Arabian Gulf have temporarily suspended operations.
Carriers continue to accept bookings for the United States, Europe, the Mediterranean, and Far East destinations.
To ensure vessel and crew safety, many carriers are rerouting services via the Cape of Good Hope to avoid affected conflict zones.
Expected Impact to Shipments
Rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope is expected to increase transit times by approximately 10–14 days, particularly for shipments destined to Europe, the Mediterranean, and the United States.
As carriers restructure service rotations, vessel omissions, schedule changes, and delayed arrivals/departures may occur.
Emergency Risk Surcharges (ERS) and/or War Risk Surcharges (WRS) may be implemented on affected trade lanes.
Cargo continues to move; however, schedule reliability and transit predictability are currently impacted.
Air Freight Update
We are also experiencing significant disruptions to air freight operations due to the evolving security situation in the region.
Airspace & Airline Status
The airspace of the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) and Qatar is closed until further notice.
Airlines have issued official notices confirming widespread operational disruption.
Flights to and from Amman (AMM) have been suspended by multiple carriers.
Emirates (EK), Etihad (EY), and Qatar Airways (QR) operations are disrupted.
Royal Jordania (RJ) remains operational with extremely limited capacity; next available space is currently projected from 18 March onward.
Shipment Impact
Shipments that have departed origin on EK, EY, or QR and are currently in transit are pending recovery options once flight operations resume.
Shipments booked but not yet departed should be urgently reviewed for rerouting via alternative carriers where feasible.
Priority Commodities
Immediate attention is required for recovery planning of the following sensitive cargo:
Fish and seafood
Flowers
Hatching eggs
Lithium-ion batteries
Pharmaceutical shipments
Our operations teams are actively reviewing all affected Air Waybills (AWBs) and coordinating recovery solutions as airlines provide further guidance.
We are closely monitoring developments and will continue to provide updates as the situation evolves.
For shipment-specific inquiries or assistance, please contact your local customer service representative.
Thank you for your continued trust and partnership during this dynamic situation.