Newsletter- September 14, 2022

AIR FREIGHT UPDATES

The Skies Over London Will Fall Silent Today & Monday

simpleflying.com
Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II last week, the UK is gearing up for her funeral on Monday. With the coffin having been flown down from Edinburgh to London yesterday, this afternoon will see it undertake a ceremonial procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, with air traffic being impacted as a result. Read more here.

French air traffic to be cut by 50% on Sept. 16 over strikes, authority says

reuters.com
PARIS, Sept 13 (Reuters) – France’s DGAC aviation authority on Tuesday said it has asked airlines to halve their flight schedules on Friday, Sept. 16, due to a planned strike by air traffic controllers.
The cuts affect the whole of France, the DGAC said in a statement, adding that it was currently working with the European air travel regulator Eurocontrol to help airlines avoid the country’s air space. Read more here.

German government support fund sells remaining Lufthansa stake

aircargonews.net
Germany’s Economic Stabilisation Fund (ESF) has withdrawn its interest in Lufthansa after the airline’s operations and income were hit by pandemic measures.
The German Federal Government-owned Federal Republic of Germany – Finance Agency said the German airline has now been stabilised and ESF has sold its remaining stake. Read more here.

Schiphol hit by staff shortages with airlines asked to cancel flights

aircargonews.net
Schiphol Airport on Monday asked airlines to cut flight numbers after being again hit by staff shortages.
The Dutch airport asked several airlines to cancel flights between 16:00 and 23:00 on September 12 due to security staff shortages. Read more here.

OCEAN FREIGHT UPDATES

FMC seeking public comment on proposed ‘unreasonable refusal to deal’ rule

splash247.com
The US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) is seeking public comments in response to a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) issued yesterday implementing a requirement of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (OSRA) to define “unreasonable refusal to deal or negotiate” with respect to vessel space accommodation provided by an ocean common carrier. Read more here.

Carriers brace for more official complaints from emboldened BCOs as MSC fights protracted case

splash247.com
Shippers are likely to feel emboldened to doggedly pursue ocean carriers in the courts as the liner party fizzles out and out of pocket clients seek retribution.
In a sign of this new found persistence, Pennsylvania-based home decor MCS Industries shows no sign of letting up in its battle with the world’s largest containerline. Read more here.

Unite confirms new eight-day strike at Felixstowe will overlap Liverpool action

theloadstar.com
Unite has confirmed a second wave of strikes are to take place at the Port of Felixstowe after the port’s owner/operator Hutchison “unilaterally” ended talks over a new contract.
The industrial action is set to run for eight days from 27 September to 5 October and, as reported by The Loadstar last week, will overlap with strikes taking place at the Port of Liverpool running from 19 September to 3 October. Read more here.