Track Air Freight Crisis 2026 News

Air freight costs have spiked 400% in just 48 hours as the Iran war has closed vast swaths of Middle East airspace to commercial aviation. Cargo planes that normally fly direct routes between Europe and Asia via the Gulf must now detour around the conflict zone, adding hours of flight time, extra fuel costs, and reducing effective cargo capacity. The closure of Iraqi, Iranian, and parts of Saudi and UAE airspace has created bottleneck corridors through Central Asia and northern routes that are now severely congested. This compounds the maritime disruption — with sea freight through Hormuz nearly impossible, shippers that would normally use ocean transport are competing for limited air cargo space, driving prices even higher. Industries dependent on just-in-time supply chains — electronics, pharmaceuticals, automotive parts, and perishable goods — are being hit hardest.