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MIDDLE EAST
INDUSTRY DISRUPTIONS

The Middle East War is a rapidly evolving situation, with impact on supply chains remaining fluid.

The Radiant Network remains committed to providing our customers with customized supply chain solutions that deliver, whatever the challenge.

The coming days will require expertise in creative solutions for successful movement in and out of affected areas. These updates illustrate the need to ensure your supply chain partner is well versed in both international and domestic out-of-the-box solutions.

The Radiant Network will continue to work with valued customers: past, present and future alike, on providing assistance and problem solving for these current challenges.

If you have questions or concerns with freight or with your supply chain, please reach out to your account executive from the Radiant Network. 

This page will be updated with new information as it becomes available. 

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AIR UPDATES
OCEAN UPDATES

AIR UPDATES

Last updated September 4, 2026 at 10am PST

The Middle East air freight market is showing signs of stabilization, but recovery remains uneven across the region. Major Gulf hubs such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha are operating with significantly greater stability, and airspace across much of the GCC is open. Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways are maintaining substantially more normal operations, providing improved access to the region, and restoring some of the capacity lost during the initial disruption.

However, the recovery is not uniform. Kuwait remains subject to operational and airspace restrictions, while several airlines continue to limit or suspend services to higher-risk destinations. Qatar Airways, for example, has maintained suspensions affecting Kuwait and other regional destinations, while Cargolux continues to hold its planned return to DWC and other Middle East destinations, with Muscat remaining its primary operating point in the region.

Dedicated freighter capacity also remains below the levels originally anticipated. Cathay’s decision to postpone its Riyadh freighter restart, following Cargolux's similar decision, highlights the continued caution among long-haul cargo carriers. While passenger belly capacity is returning through the major Gulf hubs, the slower return of dedicated freighters is limiting overall cargo capacity on certain Middle East lanes.

From an air freight perspective, the market has therefore shifted from crisis management toward cautious stabilization. Capacity is improving through the major Gulf gateways, but routing restrictions, security considerations and uneven airline schedules continue to create variability. Transit times and pricing are more stable than during the peak of the disruption, although certain destinations and routings remain subject to significant volatility.

For shippers, the outlook is cautiously positive but not yet "business as usual." Air freight remains one of the more reliable transportation options for urgent cargo into the region, particularly as ongoing Red Sea disruptions continue to create uncertainty for ocean freight. However, shipments moving through or into higher-risk markets should continue to be planned with additional lead time and routing flexibility.

Current Airline Updates:

CARGOLUX:

  • Temporary suspension and acceptance of all freight bound for the Middle East until further notice, with the exception of Muscat.

  • Planned restart to DWC has been placed on hold until further notice.

AIR FRANCE/KLM/MARTINAIR:

  • Suspended following flights:

    • Air France: Beirut Until September 13

    • Air France: Dubai until September 4-5

    • KLM: Dubai Until October 24

    • KLM: Riyadh Until October 24

    • KLM: Dammam Until October 24

    • Martinair: Dubai until further notice

LUFTHANSA 

  • Due to the volatile situation in the Middle East and for operational reasons the Lufthansa Group Airlines will continue to suspend flights to the following destinations.
    • Dubai through October 24
    • Tel Aviv gradually restarted
    • Amman through October 24, Austrian Airlines set to resume starting Oct 2
    • Beirut through October 24
    • Dammam through October 24
    • Riyadh through October 24. Potential restart of three weekly flights starting Sep 10
    • Erbil through October 24
    • Muscat through October 24
    • Tehran through October 31
  • Lufthansa is canceling 20,000 flights through October 2026, largely due to soaring jet fuel prices and shortages caused by the conflict. The cancellations focus on short-haul European routes and older aircraft, with around 120 daily flights already impacted, including routes from Frankfurt.

ITA AIRWAYS

  • Suspended flights to and from:

    • Dubai until October 24

    • Riyadh until September 15

  • Anticipating Tel Aviv to resume starting July 1

QATAR AIRWAYS

  • A temporary embargo is currently in place on all products to Bahrain (BAH), Erbil (EBL) and Kuwait (KWI) until further notice.
  • Qatar Airways Cargo has published its latest schedule, reflecting the resumption of freighter and belly operations to and from Doha.
  • Qatar Airways Cargo will resume twice weekly freighter flights to Dubai World Central (DWC) on 26 April, and three times weekly Sharjah (SHJ) flights on 1 May. Qatar Airways will also resume daily passenger flights to Dubai (DXB) and Sharjah (SHJ).
  • Freighter destinations will increase to over 50 as of 1 May, while our passenger / belly-hold network will continue its expansion to over 150 destinations from 16 June.
  • The embargo on VIC – Q‑Prime Urgent Critical Cargo has been lifted as of 23 April, allowing for the highest priority on capacity-restrained flights and continuous monitoring provided by Qatar Airways Cargo’s Control Tower.
  • The following products will be available effective 1 May with bookings currently available:
    • QRLIV* – special handling codes AVF, AVM and DOC
    • LHO – live human organs and blood

UNITED

  • Flights to and from Tel Aviv and Dubai have been suspended until further notice.

EMIRATES

  • Following the partial reopening of regional airspace, Emirates has resumed passenger and freighter operations, with services now stabilizing across the network and cargo flows operating smoothly.

  • Customers may continue to plan and book shipments on available flights, subject to capacity. Transit cargo via Dubai (DXB/DWC) will be accepted where onward connections are confirmed and operational.

  • The updated list of passenger and freighter destinations for the month of April is available on the links below:

  • In addition, a scheduled Road Feeder Service (RFS) operation twice weekly has been introduced to Muscat (MCT), Bahrain (BAH), and Kuwait (KWI). Customers are requested to liaise with their local Emirates SkyCargo offices for booking and operational requirements related to these services.

  • Flight schedules remain subject to change and regulatory approvals. Customers are advised to contact their local Emirates SkyCargo office for the latest updates on schedules, capacity, and requirements.

  • Restrictions still in place:

    • Class 1 Dangerous Goods remain restricted to and from the EK network.

ETIHAD

  • Etihad Airways is currently operating a limited commercial flight schedule between Abu Dhabi and a number of key destinations.
  • Limited number of repositioning, cargo, and repatriation flights are operating.
  • Please check online schedule or local sales office to confirm capacity and service.
  • The United Arab Emirates carrier said it is operating ​a commercial flight schedule between Abu Dhabi and around 80 destinations.

AIR CANADA

  •  All flights to and from Dubai and Tel Aviv are suspended until further notice.

DHL

  • All flights to and from Middle East are temporarily suspended until further notice with the exception of the resumptions below:
    • BAH, DXB, DWC, AUH, SHJ, MCT currently open
    • Perishable now acceptable to DWC, DXB. and MCT
    • DG acceptable to all open ME destinations

IAG

  • Flights between London and Amman are suspended until October 2026.
  • Flights between London and Tel Aviv are suspended until October 2026.
  • Flights between Madrid and Doha are suspended until end of October 2026.
  • Flights between London and Riyadh are suspended until end of October 2026.
  • Flights between London and Dubai are suspended until end of October 2026.
  • Flights between London and Abu Dhabi are suspended until January 2027.
  • Flights between London and Bahrain are suspended until March 2027.
  • Flights between London and Larnaca are operating on a reduced schedule.
  • Flights between London and Jeddah are suspended.
  • Flights between London and Doha have resumed service.

TURKISH

  • Flights to Dubai fully restored June 9.

  • Flights to Abu Dhabi starting July 1.

  • Flights to Doha fully restored.

  • While some flights to Amman and Beirut have resumed, operations remain subject to schedule adjustments.

SILKWAY

  • All scheduled destinations have resumed.

CATHAY

  • Resumption of passenger service to Dubai and Riyadh postponed to October 26.
  • Freighter service to Riyadh postponed. No ETA for resumption.

VIRGIN

  • Service to and from DXB has been suspended for the season. Planned return Winter 2027.

  • Services to and from Riyadh are now cancelled indefinitely.

  • The situation remains dynamic, and they are actively monitoring. Confirm with local sales and customer service before booking.

FINNAIR

  • Flights suspended to Dubai.

  • Finnair also announced it will not operate flights to Doha for the upcoming 2026-27 Winter Schedule.

AIR INDIA

  • Flights resumed to/from Jeddah and Muscat.
  • Other Middle East destinations remain suspended, they are operating a number of non-scheduled flights to support stranded passengers.
  • Trimming long haul flights up to 12% between now and end of July 2026 due to surge in jet-fuel prices and detours by the conflict.
    • Cuts affect marquee routes such as Delhi-New York, Mumbai-London, and Bengaluru-San Fransisco.

GULF AIR

  • Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, has announced a near-full return to normal operations, with 75% of its global network and destinations reinstated. Over the past several weeks, the airline has gradually resumed services across the Middle East, Europe, Indian Subcontinent, and Africa, resuming services to more destinations and reconnecting an increasing number of passengers through the Kingdom of Bahrain.
  • Gulf Air confirmed that flight frequency continues to grow, with services now operating across 40 destinations in 24 countries, representing 75% of network, underlining the airline’s swift and structured return to full operations. Gulf Air continues to add flights and increase daily frequencies across its network in a phased approach leading to full restoration by 1 June 2026.

ROYAL JORDANIAN

  •  Flights will resume as long as airspace remains open. Flights have been cancelled to any closed airspace.

SINGAPORE AIRLINES

  •  SQ494 and SQ495 to and from Dubai suspended until October 24.

CHALLENGE AIRLINES

  •  Continuing to operate full flight schedule despite current Middle East disruptions.



OCEAN UPDATES

Last updated September 11, 2026, at 10am PST

The maritime security situation across the Middle East continues to evolve, with heightened risk surrounding both the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea/Bab el-Mandeb corridor.

Commercial vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains significantly below historical levels as security concerns, increased war-risk insurance costs and limited vessel participation continue to impact Gulf shipping.

More recently, developments in Yemen have increased concerns surrounding the Bab el-Mandeb, a critical gateway connecting the Red Sea and Suez Canal. This comes as some ocean carriers had begun cautiously restoring limited services through the Red Sea/Suez corridor.

Currently, the broader global container market continues to operate without widespread disruption directly attributable to the Middle East situation. However, customers should remain prepared for:

• Potential vessel rerouting or service changes
• Extended transit times for affected routings
• Increased bunker/fuel and war-risk related costs
• Port congestion and schedule reliability challenges
• Short-notice carrier operational changes

Cargo moving to, from or through the Middle East currently carries the greatest exposure.

The situation remains highly fluid, and ocean carriers continue to evaluate vessel routings based on security conditions. We recommend allowing additional flexibility in supply chain planning and booking critical shipments as early as possible.

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