As you may have heard over the weekend, UK and Ireland have been added to the Coronavirus travel ban.  As a result, shippers should expect several things:

  • More flight cancellations starting this week (March 16) through April.
  • Suspended airline tariff rates by many air carriers in favor of quoting ad-hoc.
  • Virus screening ability at 13 designated airports:  BOS, ORD, DFW, DTW, HNL, ATL, JFK, LAX, MIA, EWR, SFO, SEA, and IAD.
  • Freighters still operating as scheduled with some additional capacity added.

Additionally, we have received additional detail from several carriers:

  • American Airlines is implementing a phased suspension of long-haul flights from the US beginning today (March 16) through May 6, 2020.  For now, they will continue with one flight daily from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) to London (LHR); one flight daily from Miami (MIA) to London (LHR); and three flights per week from DFW to Tokyo (NRT). The carrier will also continue short-haul international flying, which includes flights to Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Central American and certain markets in the northern part of South America, as scheduled.
  • Air France/KLM shared that flight schedules to and from the US will be significantly reduced effective March 23. Until March 22, they will operate a reduced number of passenger flights from: JFK, DTW, SFO, LAX, ORD, IAD, ATL, BOS & MIA.  All cargo allocations and bookings have been cancelled.  If the cargo has already been tendered, they will help to re-book if a flight is available; otherwise, cargo would be rated and booked on a case-by-case basis.  Please also note that their booking window has been adjusted to seven (7) days.  Air France/KLM will operate full freighters as per current schedule out of ORD, MIA & IAH.
  • United will continue to fly regular schedule from Europe to the U.S. through March 20, 2020 except IAH-LHR and DEN-LHR, which we will be suspended as of today (March 16). After March 20, United will fly three daily flights to LHR and FRA; two daily flights to MUC; daily service to DUB, AMS, BRU, CDG and ZRH; and four flights a week to LIS.  United will suspend its daily service between IAH and EZE. Effective Wednesday, April 1, 2020, service between IAD and GRU will be suspended; and they will reduce one daily frequency between IAH and various ports in Mexico and Bogota, Columbia, and between EWR and MEX and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Service between EWR and MXP and EWR and FCO is suspended through April 30, 2020. Service will also be suspended between IAD and TLV from April 1 through April 30, 2020.
  • Turkish Airlines will continue all US passenger and freighter flights, but have suspended all tariff and seasonal rates. Shipments will be rated ad hoc.

Please contact [email protected] if you require assistance with your airfreight routings.

Shapiro will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as they become available.