Middle East Conflict Disrupts Global Air Cargo, Stranding Goods Worldwide

An escalating Middle East conflict has reduced global air cargo capacity by over 20%, leaving shipments from fresh produce to aircraft components stuck in transit. The disruption has halted flights across major cargo hubs like Dubai and Doha, driving up shipping costs and creating supply chain bottlenecks.

An intensifying Middle East conflict is causing major disruptions to global air freight operations, leaving everything from fresh food to aircraft components stranded as shipping capacity drops dramatically worldwide.

The ongoing U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran have forced the suspension of both passenger and cargo flights throughout the region, including major international shipping centers in Doha and Dubai.

Aviation consulting firm Aevean reports that worldwide air freight capacity fell 22% during the four-day period from February 28 through March 3, compared to a similar timeframe last month prior to Chinese New Year celebrations.

“It is an absolute halt of the supply chain to the Middle East,” stated Abdol Moaberry, chief executive of GA Telesis, a Florida-based company specializing in aircraft components and maintenance services. His company cannot transport parts to the affected region or retrieve components requiring repairs.

According to the International Air Transport Association, air freight handles roughly one-third of international commerce by monetary value. This includes everything from Apple devices to climate-sensitive medications, fresh produce, and automotive components transported in passenger aircraft cargo holds and dedicated freight planes.

Middle Eastern airlines control approximately 13% of global air cargo capacity, according to Aevean data. The disruption particularly affects routes connecting Asia and Europe.

Brian Bourke, chief commercial officer at SEKO Logistics, explained that Europe and Asia-Pacific regions face greater consequences due to their dependence on Middle Eastern shipping hubs.

“Companies in the U.S. should be paying attention,” Bourke noted. “But it’s not as immediate as if you’re in Europe or Asia or Australia.”

Air freight capacity along the Asia-Middle East-Europe corridor has dropped 39% since hostilities began, though direct shipping between China and Europe has grown 26%, Aevean reported.

Joshua Ng from Alton Aviation Consultancy suggests Chinese carriers may gain competitive advantages since they can utilize Russian airspace while many competitors face restrictions, resulting in shorter routes and reduced operational expenses.

Freightos consultancy data shows shipping rates from Southeast Asia to Europe have increased more than 6% to $3.82 per kilogram since Friday, with South Asian rates climbing 3% to Europe and 5% to the United States.

“Whenever operational disruptions increase costs or reduce capacity, air cargo rates tend to experience upward pressure,” Ng explained. “In the near term, shippers may begin to see higher spot rates on the Asia–Europe corridor, particularly if the disruption persists and capacity constraints continue.”

Stefan Paul, chief executive of Swiss logistics company Kuehne+Nagel, warned Tuesday that “certain backlogs arising in Southeast Asia and in China for the European and the U.S. marketplace” could develop by early next week.

Aircraft parts typically require air transport, and extended disruptions may delay Middle Eastern carriers’ attempts to resume normal operations. Kuehne+Nagel data indicates aerospace shipments to and from the region represented 6.7% of global aerospace freight in 2025.

“Even if the aircraft is not flying because of the war, the aircraft still has to be airworthy for when the skies open up,” explained Amyr Qureshi, senior vice president at Aventure Aviation.

Aventure serves approximately 70 airlines, including Etihad Airways, Emirates and Qatar Airways, maintaining essential components like engine valves and avionics at its Atlanta distribution facility.

Qureshi reported urgent calls from numerous carriers seeking parts, as individual components can sometimes determine whether aircraft remain grounded for maintenance. “If the part doesn’t arrive on time the airplane sits in the hangar more,” he said, calling it a “domino effect.”

On a positive note, Qureshi mentioned that components scheduled for shipment from Dubai airport to Atlanta for repairs were collected by a freight forwarder Wednesday.

“There is a gradual improvement,” he observed. “But these things are so unpredictable… tomorrow everything comes to a standstill.”