Air and sea freight in the Middle East

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ASTRACON-News

Air and sea freight in the Middle East: Current situation and flexible transport solutions

Stuttgart/Bremen/Frankfurt, March 10, 2026: The current geopolitical situation in the Middle East is leading to restrictions in international transport. Air and sea freight connections to the region are particularly affected at present. For companies with supply chains in these markets, it is therefore more important than ever to respond flexibly and explore alternative transport routes.

The logistics specialists at O.T.S. ASTRACON continuously monitor developments and maintain close contact with shipping companies, airlines, and international partners. The aim is to identify potential impacts at an early stage and work with our customers to develop suitable transport solutions to keep supply chains stable.

Sea freight: Adjustments to Gulf traffic

Several large container shipping companies have currently adjusted their route planning and are no longer using the Strait of Hormuz. Ports in the Arabian Gulf are therefore temporarily not being served as usual. Many shipping companies are currently not accepting new bookings to affected Gulf ports.

Ports in the Red Sea, such as Jeddah or Aqaba (Akaba), will continue to be served.

Adjustments may currently be made to existing and planned sea freight shipments:

Containers that have already been shipped may be rerouted, returned to their port of origin, or unloaded at alternative ports.
Some containers at the port of departure may have to be unloaded or rescheduled.
Some shipping companies have introduced temporary surcharges such as a war risk surcharge.
In certain cases, shipping companies are invoking force majeure regulations, which may result in additional costs (e.g., storage, demurrage, or onward transport).

Together with our partners, we are continuously reviewing alternative routes and transshipment options to make transport as predictable as possible.

Air freight: Diversions and limited capacity
Air traffic is also currently subject to restrictions. Several airspaces in the Middle East are currently closed to civil aviation or are being avoided by airlines. This affects Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, and other parts of the Gulf region, among others.

Some airlines have therefore reduced or temporarily suspended their connections to the region. Important hubs in the Middle East, which normally serve as central hubs for connections between Europe, Asia, and Africa, are currently only available to a limited extent. As a result, individual Middle East airlines have already accumulated backlogs in freight handling.

The following effects, among others, may currently occur:

Extensive diversions are leading to longer flight times in some cases.
In some cases, additional technical stopovers must be planned.
Lufthansa Cargo is currently not accepting bookings to Amman, Tel Aviv, Beirut, Tehran, and Dammam until April 5, 2026. Due to regional kerosene shortages, fuel surcharges may increase.

Our air freight specialists are constantly checking alternative connections and carriers in order to continue to organize reliable transport.

Continued availability of overland transport

Freight transport by truck continues to operate in the affected regions. However, there may be occasional delays at border crossings or during customs clearance, which may result in longer transit times.

In addition, the sharp fluctuations in fuel prices are also affecting overland transport. Rising transport costs are currently to be expected for both national pre- and post-carriage and regional road transport. The price of oil influences numerous cost factors within logistics – from truck transport and transshipment processes to surcharges in international transport.

O.T.S. ASTRACON provides support with customized solutions

The situation continues to develop dynamically. O.T.S. ASTRACON is monitoring the situation closely and coordinating closely with shipping companies, airlines, and international logistics partners.

Our goal is to work with our customers to develop pragmatic alternatives and organize transport as stably as possible—whether through alternative routes, other carriers, or adapted transport concepts. Our teams are available at any time to answer questions or coordinate specific shipments.