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 continues to move toward stabilization, but recovery remains uneven across the region. Major Gulf hubs, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, are operating with considerably greater stability, and regional logistics services are becoming more reliable. Additional air freight capacity is returning to the market, and early signs indicate that rate pressure is beginning to ease, although pricing remains above pre-crisis levels.

The recovery, however, is not uniform. Kuwait and several other markets continue to experience operational restrictions and reduced schedules, while airlines remain cautious about restoring service to higher-risk destinations. Kuwait's airspace has reopened, but capacity and schedule limitations remain, making KWI less predictable than the major Gulf gateways.

Dedicated freighter capacity is also returning more slowly than passenger belly capacity. Cathay Cargo continues to postpone its Riyadh freighter restart, while Cargolux has similarly delayed the broader resumption of its Middle East network. This is keeping dedicated cargo capacity tighter than originally expected on certain Asia–Middle East and Europe–Middle East lanes.

Fuel remains an important cost pressure. Although the initial shock in energy markets has moderated, jet fuel prices remain elevated, and airlines continue to maintain higher fuel surcharges. Cathay, for example, increased its cargo fuel surcharge effective August 1. Continued volatility in energy markets remains a risk to both airline operating costs and airfreight pricing.

Overall, the market has shifted from crisis management toward cautious normalization. Capacity is improving, rates are showing early signs of softening, and the major Gulf gateways are considerably more stable than they were earlier in the year. However, the continued postponement of dedicated freighter services and uneven recovery at destinations such as Kuwait demonstrate that the region has not yet returned to a fully normalized operating environment. Shippers should continue allowing flexibility for routing and transit times, particularly for cargo moving through the more heavily restricted markets.

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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