Newsletter – February 28, 2024

Volcanic Ash Disrupts Flights In Mexico City
simpleflying.com
A towering column of smoke from the Popocatepetl volcano resulted in a number of flight cancelations at Mexico City International Airport (MEX) on February 27th. In total, 22 flights were canceled throughout the day as airlines carried out additional safety checks on aircraft that had encountered ash from the volcano while flying in the area. Read more here.

Brussels Airlines To Cancel 20% Of Its Flights Today Because Of Strikes
simpleflying.com
Cabin crew part of the Christian union ACV Pulse/CNE will walk out for three days starting this Wednesday following the breakdown of negotiations with Brussels Airlines. The Lufthansa Group subsidiary has now scrapped one in five of its scheduled flights today, with an airline spokesperson saying, “we have preventatively canceled some flights to ensure that 80% of the flights can certainly take place.” Read more here.

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OCEAN FREIGHT UPDATES

Ocean carriers pile on capacity and dominate intra-Europe shortsea market
theloadstar.com
The major container lines continue to dominate regional carriers and commercial feeder operators in the intra-European shortsea markets.
The ocean carriers are keen to tap into niche European markets, as well as operate more of their own feeders and shuttle services in order to expand their global footprints. Read more here (login required).

Box lines in legal battle with South Korea’s antitrust body over fines
theloadstar.com
More than 20 liner operators look set for a protracted legal battle with the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC).
They have filed individual lawsuits with the Seoul High Court, challenging a fine imposed in 2022 for colluding to fix South Korea-South-east Asia tradelanes. Read more here (login required).

Threat of strike looms large over East, Gulf Coast ports
freightwaves.com
There’s an increasing abundance of skittishness surrounding the future of East and Gulf Coast ports.
The labor contract between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) is set to expire at the end of September. The ILA represents some 70,000 dockworkers, while the USMX represents employers at 36 coastal ports — including three of the U.S.’s five busiest ports: the Port of New York and New Jersey, the Port of Savannah, Georgia, and the Port of Houston. Read more here.