Hostilities between Iran and Israel have intensified, with continued missile strikes being reported in both nations.

The rising tensions are causing widespread disruption to regional and international logistics networks.

Air Cargo – Closures, Suspended Services and Rerouted Flights

Air freight has been heavily impacted as many flights across the Middle East remain grounded or rerouted. Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport remains closed to air traffic due to ongoing security concerns. National carrier El Al has suspended operations until at least 19 June, with further cancellations through 23 June, affecting numerous international routes.

Widespread airspace closures have taken hold across the region, with several countries shutting down airports or reducing flight operations. Iraq, a key corridor for east-west air traffic between Europe and Asia, has closed its airspace since Friday.

Major international airlines have actively been rerouting flights to avoid the airspace over Israel, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, and Syria, leading to delays and reshaped flight paths on key global trade lanes.

Ocean Freight – Oil, Warnings & The Red Sea

The ocean freight sector faces a mounting threat as Iran signals it may close the Strait of Hormuz – through which 20% of global oil and large volumes of natural gas are transported. Any such move would have serious consequences for global energy markets.

The UK is amongst the countries that have already advised their merchant shipping fleets to avoid sailing through the Gulf of Aden. Needles to say, the recent escalation of hostilities has done nothing to improve the chances of containerships returning to the Red Sea route.

As the conflict continues with no resolution in sight, logistics services may be impacted by further disruption. For more information, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the Westbound team.

If you have any questions regarding the above, then Westbound are here to help. So, please do not hesitate to contact us.