Due to the escalation of tensions in the Middle East and the closure of several air and maritime routes, the region is experiencing significant disruptions in international logistics. The restrictions affect both air and sea freight, impacting key transit corridors connecting Europe, Asia, and North America.
Air Freight
— The situation in the Middle East is already affecting air transport operations and capacity availability. It is important for us to keep the team informed about the current restrictions in a timely manner. We are continuously monitoring developments, assessing potential supply chain risks, and simultaneously working on alternative routing options to minimize the impact on our customers. Our objective is to ensure transparency within the organization and act proactively in the face of further possible changes, — says Karol Baranczuk, Deputy COO for Air at AsstrA.
Until further notice, it is recommended to temporarily suspend new bookings with the following airlines:
- Emirates Sky Cargo
- Etihad Airways
- FlyDubai
- Gulf Air
At this stage, no official operational notices have been received from the above carriers; therefore, AsstrA is unable to confirm how flight availability on the affected routes may evolve in the coming days.
Several carriers have temporarily suspended, reduced, or rerouted operations. Disruptions at regional hubs are significantly impacting cargo flows between Europe and Asia, particularly consolidation cargo moving through Gulf hubs.
Middle Eastern and Gulf Carriers:
- Emirates — significant disruptions at the Dubai hub
- Etihad Airways — limited departures from Abu Dhabi
- Flydubai — suspension of several regional routes
- Air Arabia — suspension of multiple destinations
- Qatar Airways — cancellations and operational disruptions on selected routes
- Gulf Air — reduced operations
- Kuwait Airways — limited operational activity
European Carriers:
- Lufthansa — partial suspension of flights to the region
- British Airways — cancellations and rerouting
- Virgin Atlantic — suspension of selected routes
- ITA Airways — cancellation of certain services
- Norwegian — suspension of Dubai services
Asian Carriers:
- Air India — rerouting and cancellations
- IndiGo — schedule disruptions
- Akasa Air — suspension of services to several regional destinations
Airspace has been partially or fully closed in the following countries: Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan. The Middle East remains a critical transit corridor between Europe, Asia, and North America. Restrictions affecting major hubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha are directly impacting consolidation flows between Europe and Asia.
Sea Freight
— Our teams remain in regular contact with local authorities and partners to respond proactively and minimize potential disruptions, — ensures Larysa Nikalayuk, Deputu COO for Ocean at AsstrA.
The situation regarding maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has significantly deteriorated in recent days. As of March 1, 2026, transit through the strait has effectively been suspended, leading to serious disruptions in maritime routes. Prior to the escalation, routes passing through the Strait of Hormuz connected Gulf ports with global markets.
Major container lines including Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM, HMM, and ONE operated regular services between Asia (China, Korea), Europe, India, and regional ports such as Jebel Ali (UAE). A substantial portion of these routes transited through the Strait of Hormuz.
Current Situation (as of March 1, 2026)
Navigation safety in the strait has been severely compromised, and most carriers have suspended transits.
- Strait closure — according to international sources, navigation through the Strait of Hormuz is restricted, and vessels are being warned not to proceed.
- Traffic decline — vessel traffic has dropped by approximately 70%. Congestion is forming off the coast, with more than 50 vessels reported near Bandar Abbas.
- As of early March, approximately 170 container vessels (with a combined capacity of around 450,000 TEU) are effectively trapped inside the Persian Gulf.
Carrier Actions
- Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM, Maersk, and MSC have suspended transits through the strait.
- Some lines are rerouting vessels via the Cape of Good Hope.
- Several Asian carriers are planning services that bypass the high-risk region.
- A number of shipping companies have instructed vessels not to enter the strait.
Additionally, DP World temporarily suspended operations at Jebel Ali port (UAE), with partial operations later resuming.
Alternative Routes
Omani ports — Sohar, Salalah, and Duqm — are being considered as alternative transshipment hubs, with onward delivery by feeder vessels or land transport. However, these solutions involve additional risks and increased costs.
Potential consequences include:
- Freight rate increases of 50–80%;
- Transit time extensions of 10–15 days;
- Introduction of war risk and emergency surcharges.
Several carriers have already announced emergency or war risk surcharges, and further rate increases are expected due to cascading effects across global routes.
Shipment Planning Recommendations
At present, direct maritime services to Persian Gulf ports (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait) via the Strait of Hormuz are suspended.
Possible alternatives include transshipment via Omani ports, subject to safety verification and acceptance of additional costs and longer transit times.
For urgent or critical cargo, air freight may be considered; however, existing aviation restrictions and significantly higher costs must be taken into account.
The situation remains highly volatile. Current developments are having a systemic impact on both air and sea freight, effectively restricting key regional transit corridors.
AsstrA team continues to closely monitor developments and proactively develop alternative routing solutions to ensure supply chain continuity. Further updates will be provided as soon as confirmed operational information becomes available.
