Air Freight Shippers Hit as Volcanic Ash Plume Hits Transpacific Capacity

Asia-U.S. capacity is currently tight following the cancellation of a number of flights due to volcanic ash in the air. A series of volcanic eruptions on Alaska’s Bogoslof Island triggered an ash cloud, which caused several airlines to adjust their transpacific operations, creating “very tight” space, according to one forwarder....

Spain: Workers Suspend Strikes

The Spanish stevedoring unions have decided to shelve their strike plans for the rest of this month as a sign of good will. The move was prompted by a letter from the Association of Port Stevedoring Companies of Barcelona, which asked for the suspension of strikes after major port companies...

European Dockworkers to Hold Two-Hour Strikes on June 29

There will be a two-hour strike taking place across European ports on June 29, with all dockworker activities ceasing from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. This stoppage has been called to support Spanish dockworkers in their current conflict and to “fight the ultra-liberal model of the European Union that goes...

New Strike Wave to Further Cripple Spanish Ports

Spanish ports are facing another round of strikes as stevedores announced plans to strike next week, as well. Namely, the strikes are to be held from June 14th, 0800 hrs till June 16th 0800 hrs. In addition, dockworkers said that they would stop work at odd hours on June 19th,...

IATA: Venezuela Being Cut Off by Airlines

Venezuela is nearing a point where air links with the rest of the world will be largely cut off, an IATA official warned. Speaking to reporters on June 4, IATA regional VP-Americas Peter Cerda said the Venezuelan government “still withholds more than $3.8 billion in airline funds in contravention of...

Middle East Diplomatic Crisis Threatens Regional Air Freight Operations

A spiraling diplomatic crisis in the Arab Gulf region is already snarling overland logistics along the Qatar-Saudi Arabia border, and regional freight forwarding is running into complications as Emirates and Etihad operations terminating in Doha grind to a halt. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt, Yemen and Libya...

Port Workers in Spain to Strike This Week

Spanish port workers said on Thursday they would go on strike for three days this week to protest against the reform of operations aimed at liberalizing hiring practices in a heavily unionized sector. The strike action is set for next Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Earlier this month, Spain’s parliament passed...

Barge delays continue at Rotterdam terminal

Barges started facing delays at Rotterdam World Gateway Terminal in March. Inland barges continue to face long delays at Rotterdam World Gateway (RWG) Terminal as the recently launched ocean carrier alliances introduce new services at Europe’s largest container hub. Contargo, a leading German barge and rail operator that transports containers...

Spanish dockworkers to strike next week

Spanish ports such as Cadiz will come to a standstill next week. Spanish dockworkers will strike for three days next week to protest government plans to liberalize the hiring of workers in the nation’s ports. The dockworkers’ union said the strikes will take place on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and...