Asia-Europe Air Freight Capacity Plunges 39% Amid Middle East Conflict

Escalating military conflicts in the Middle East are dealing a heavy blow to the global air freight industry. Flight suspensions at major transit hubs like Doha and Dubai have severely slashed transport capacity, driving up freight rates and threatening to choke the supply chains of many essential goods.

The direct consequence is that cargo - ranging from fresh agricultural produce to aviation components - is stuck in a state of stagnation. According to data from aviation and logistics consultancy Evian, the military campaign wiped out 22% of global air freight capacity between February 28 and March 3, compared to the four-day period prior to the Lunar New Year holiday last month.

Supply Chains Frozen in the Middle East

The critical importance of air freight cannot be overstated. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), this mode of transport accounts for approximately one-third of global trade by value, carrying high-value and time-sensitive goods such as Apple products, temperature-controlled pharmaceuticals, fresh fruit, and automotive parts.

However, this vital artery is currently being choked. Assessing the situation, Abdol Moabery, CEO of Florida-based GA Telesis - a provider of aircraft parts and repair services currently unable to move equipment in and out of the region - stated: "It's a complete standstill of the supply chain to the Middle East."

Asia-Europe Route Hit the Hardest

Evian points out that Middle Eastern airlines currently hold about 13% of the global air cargo market share. Disruptions at these transit hubs have dealt the heaviest blow to cargo flows connecting Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.

Data shows that air freight capacity on routes from Asia through the Middle East to Europe has plummeted by 39% since the conflict erupted. A rare bright spot is that capacity on direct flights between China and Europe actually recorded a 26% increase.

Commenting on the diverging regional impacts, Brian Bourke, Chief Commercial Officer at SEKO Logistics, shared: "Businesses in the US need to be aware... but the impact won't be as immediate as if you were in Europe, Asia, or Australia."

In this context, Joshua Ng, Director at Alton Aviation Consultancy, analyzed that Chinese airlines might currently hold a significant competitive advantage. The fact that they are still permitted to fly over Russian airspace helps them shorten flight times and optimize operational costs.

Skyrocketing Freight Rates and Fears of "Bottlenecks"

The scarcity of payload capacity inevitably leads to an escalation in freight rates. According to the Freight Rate Index published by consultancy Freightos, rates from Southeast Asia to Europe have jumped over 6%, touching $3.82/kg since last Friday. Similarly, rates from South Asia to Europe rose by 3%, and to the US by 5%.

Looking at the short-term picture, the pressure on the logistics system is immense. Stefan Paul, CEO of the Swiss logistics group Kuehne+Nagel, issued a stark warning on Tuesday: "certain bottlenecks may emerge in Southeast Asia and China for products destined for the European and US markets."

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Source: Phaata.com (According to Maaal)

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