Bottom view of a plane flying over a container yard.

Current service status

Latest information on transport and logistics operations

Published on 2 March 2026 / Last edited on 13 April 2026, 16:30hr, CET

Recent developments in the Middle East have resulted in a more volatile security environment across parts of the region, leading several governments and authorities to introduce precautionary measures affecting selected air and sea routes. In response, Kuehne+Nagel is closely monitoring the situation and assessing potential implications for our operations, with safety and service continuity as key priorities.

The wellbeing of our people remains paramount, and all teams are currently safe, fully contactable, and operational. At the same time, we continue to work closely with our partners to support customers, maintain service continuity, and minimise any potential impact on shipments. Where shipments may be affected, customers will be contacted directly with updates and to agree on the most appropriate next steps.

Latest updates

Air Logistics – what is affected

Airspace is closed in multiple countries, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq and Iran. UAE airspace is open. Qatar airspace is partially open with limited flights operating. Israel airspace is partially open with limited operations. Saudi Arabian airspace is open. Jordanian airspace is open. Oman airspace is open. Lebanese airspace remains open with limited flight activity.

  • Air France (AF), KLM (KL) and Martin Air (MP) have suspended following flights until further notice:

    • Air France: Dubai (DXB), Riyadh (RUH), Beirut (BEY and Tel Aviv (TLV)

    • KLM: Dubai (DXB), Riyadh (RUH), Dammam (DMM) and Tel Aviv (TLV)

    • Martinair: Dubai (DWC) and Cairo (CAI)

  • Atlas Air (5Y) has suspended flights to the Middle East until futher notice.

  • British Airways (BA), Iberia (IB) and Air Lingus (EI) have suspended flights from London (LHR) to Abu Dhabi (AUH), Amman (AMM), Doha (DOH), and Dubai (DXB) and Tel Aviv (TLV) until further notice. Flights from Madrid (MAD) to Doha (DOH) are suspended until further notice. Flights from Madrid (MAD) to Tel Aviv (TLV) are suspended until further notice.

  • Cargolux (CV) has cancelled all flights to the Middle East until further notice. The only exception to this restriction is cargo destined for Muscat (MCT).

  • Delta (DL) has suspended all flights to and from Tel Aviv (TLV) until further notice.

  • El Al and Sundor (2U) are operating under emergency procedures in coordination with security authorities and the Israel Civil Aviation Authority. All regular scheduled flights have been cancelled through April 15.

  • Emirates Airline (EK) has begun operating a limited number of passenger and freighter flights on select routes. As operations gradually resume, priority continues to be given to clearing cargo currently on hand.

  • Ethiopian Airlines (ET) is cancelling flights to and from the Middle East region. So far, flights to Amman, Tel Aviv, Dammam, and Beirut are cancelled.

  • Etihad (EY) will resume a limited commercial flights schedule between Abu Dhabi and Ahmedabad, Bangkok, Bengaluru, Cairo, Colombo, Delhi, Frankfurt, Hanoi, Hyderabad, Jeddah, Kuala Lumpur, London (Heathrow), Madrid, Malé, Milan (Malpensa), Mumbai, New York (JFK), Paris, Phuket, Riyadh, Rome, Seoul (Incheon), Toronto, and Zurich. All flights remain subject to operational approvals and may change based on regional airspace conditions. All other commercial services to and from Abu Dhabi remain suspended. Cargo operations continue mainly via freighters and approved cargo movements, with any belly capacity dependent on operational readiness and regulatory clearance.

  • Kuwait Airlines (KU) has suspended all flights in and out of Kuwait.

  • Lufthansa (LH), Swiss (LX) and Austrian (OS) have suspended all freighter flights to/ from Tel Aviv (TLV) through April 30 and to/from Beirut (BEY) until further notice. All passenger flights to/from Dubai (DXB) and Tel Aviv (TLV) are suspended through May 31. Flights to/from Abu Dhabi (AUH), Amman (AMM), Beirut (BEY), Dammam (DAM), Erbil (EBL), Muscat (MCT) and Riyadh (RUH) are suspended until further notice.

  • Qatar Airways (QR) has resumed selected freighter operations to and from Doha. Following temporary authorization from the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority, confirming limited operating corridors, the air cargo carrier will operate across key markets. In parallel, Qatar Airways Cargo continues to operate the wider freighter network outside Doha, ensuring uninterrupted access to major global trade lanes and maintaining capacity across its international network. In addition, Qatar Airways is operating a limited number of passenger flights with belly-hold capacity from March 18 to March 28.

  • Saudi Arabian Airlines (SV) has cancelled all flights to and from Amman, Kuwait, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Bahrain, Moscow and Peshawar until further notice. Some flight routes may be altered to avoid areas of tension, resulting in minor adjustments to scheduled arrival times at some destinations.

  • Silkway (7L) will retain cargo at their terminal hub in Baku, Azerbaijan, for destinations affected by airspace closures. Destinations impacted include all Iraqi airports, Tel Aviv (TLV), Kuwait (KWI), Dammam (DMM), and Dubai (DWC). They will resume cargo movement to final destinations when routing restrictions are lifted.

  • Turkish Airlines (TK) has cancelled all flights to Doha, Kuwait, Bahrain, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Dammam, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Iran until further notice.

  • Virgin Atlantic (VS) has cancelled flights to Dubai until further notice. The airline will temporarily alter its flight path to avoid Iraqi Airspace.

  • United Airlines (UA) has cancelled all departures to and from Tel Aviv (TLV) and Dubai (DXB) until further notice.

Sea Logistics – what is affected

  • UAE: All ports operating

  • Qatar: Doha port is operating

  • Saud Arabia: All ports operating

  • Bahrain: Port is operating

  • Kuwait: All ports operating

  • Iraq: Umm Qasr port is operating

  • Oman: All ports are operating

  • Jordan: Aqaba port is operating as usual

Please note that the above is subject to change.

Transit remains selective and permission‑based rather than fully open; traffic continues to operate well below pre‑conflict levels, with tightly controlled crossings and restrictions on maritime movements in and out of the Strait.

Major carriers have halted passage through the Bab el Mandeb Strait, forcing rerouting and significantly prolonging voyages. South bound red sea is continuing with most carriers to the port of Jeddah, Aqaba, and King Abdullah port.

  • UAE:

    • Khor Fakkan: Significant congestion on both landside and seaside, resulting in an estimated delay of approximately 7–10 days due to berthing queues and slower onward connections to Jebel Ali, Abu Dhabi, or Sharjah.

    • We are also observing multiple cut‑and‑run calls by carriers, which may lead to split arrivals at the port of discharge.

    • Fujairah: Heavy congestion on both landside and seaside, with delays of approximately 5–8 days caused by berthing delays and slower onward connections to Jebel Ali, Abu Dhabi, or Sharjah.

  • Oman:

    • Sohar: Minor congestion noted. Landside capacity continues to operate normally, though increased corridor usage may create additional pressure.

    • Salalah: Minor congestion observed. Landside operations remain stable,

    • Both ports are facing the limited availability of gen-sets for refrigerated cargo.

  • Saudi Arabia:

    • Jeddah: Slight congestion on the quay side. Customs processing for transit cargo is experiencing delays due to increased demand, resulting in dwell times of 5–10 days within the port.

    • King Abdullah Port: Operations remain stable. However, truck availability is reduced due to higher demand in Jeddah.

    • Both ports are facing the limited availability of gen-sets for refrigerated cargo.

  • Jordan:

    • Operations are generally stable. Some congestion at the Jordan–Iraq border is causing an additional 1–2 days of transit time.

Surcharges & Cost Implications

Due to the rapidly evolving situation, carriers may apply additional surcharges, including, but not limited to:

War Risk Surcharge

In response to elevated regional security risks, carriers and insurers may implement or adjust war risk premiums to cargo in transit as well as to current and new bookings.

Emergency Surcharge (ES)

At least one major carrier has already announced Emergency Conflict Surcharge, with others likely to follow depending on operational impacts.

Bunker Charge (BUC)

Due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the suspension of transits through the Bab Al Mandab Strait, many vessels are rerouting via significantly longer pathways such as the Cape of Good Hope. The expected sharp increases of oil prices will lead to significant increase of global bunker prices and carriers are expected to pass on extra costs related to this.

Road Logistics – what is affected

  • All land borders across the region remain open, and cross-border trucking within the GCC continues to operate normally

  • Increased inspection protocols and congestion at certain borders may lead to extended transit times on specific corridors (overview below)

  • Operations at Jebel Ali Port remain unstable, and local UAE deliveries may experience delays.

UAE

  • Sila Entry: There is no congestion in between Batha exit to Sila entry.

  • Sila Exit: There is no congestion in Sila exit (on normal line), and there is no congestion on AEO line.

Saudi Arabia

  • Batha Entry: No congestion

  • Batha Exit: No congestion

Qatar

  • Abu Samra Entry: No congestion

  • Salwa Exit: No congestion

Kuwait

  • Nuwaiseeb Entry: Congestion

  • Al Khafji Exit: No congestion

Bahrain

  • Causeway Bridge (Entry & Exit): No congestion

Jordan

  • Al Omari: No congestion

  • Al Haditha: No congestion

Oman

  • Wajaja Entry: No congestion

  • Hatta Exit: No congestion

Rates are affected by war‑risk surcharges and higher operational costs on certain lanes due to elevated risks and capacity constraints.