The ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel is already disrupting air freight in the region, with concerns mounting that ocean freight services could also face significant disruption.
Air Freight
Ongoing tensions in the Middle East have led to widespread flight cancellations and reroutings. Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport is closed to both commercial and civilian air traffic, and national airline El Al has suspended operations until at least June 23. Several key airspaces, including Iraq—which is a crucial corridor for Europe-Asia flights—are now shut down, forcing airlines to adapt their long-haul flight schedules. As a result, many international carriers are rerouting flights to avoid Middle Eastern airspace, leading to significant changes in global flight routes.
Ocean Freight
Ocean freight is facing a potential crisis as Iran threatens to block the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for global oil shipments. This narrow waterway sees about 20% of the world’s oil pass through, and an Iranian blockade would disrupt energy markets while hindering access to critical Gulf ports like Jebel Ali and Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa Port.
As a result, the possibility of containerships returning to the Red Sea route in the near future seems increasingly unlikely.
With hostilities continuing, logistics networks are preparing for further disruptions. Global Freight Services is actively monitoring developments, please contact us for further information.
