Disruptions to air cargo routes between Asia and Europe are prompting shippers to reassess transport strategies, with an increasing number of logistics providers opting for long-distance road freight as an alternative for time-sensitive shipments.
Escalating tensions in the Middle East have led to rerouting on several major air corridors linking the two regions, resulting in longer flight paths and increased transit times. These changes are creating uncertainty around airfreight capacity and schedules for companies reliant on predictable delivery times, according to Lithuania-based logistics company Girteka.
“Disruptions to major air corridors between Asia and Europe are already forcing shippers to reassess their transport options,” said Beata Užienė, head of intercontinental solutions at Girteka. “In situations like this, companies start looking for solutions that offer both speed and predictability. Long-distance road transport between China and Europe can provide exactly that.”
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“Road transport via Central Asia offers door-to-door transit times of roughly 14 to 18 days between China and Europe,” Užienė explained. “It sits between airfreight and rail in terms of speed, but with much greater flexibility because the cargo remains on the same transport unit throughout the journey.”
Routes typically connect major Chinese manufacturing hubs including Shenzhen, Shanghai, Beijing, Qingdao and Chengdu with key European markets such as Germany, France, the Benelux region, Italy, Spain, the UK and Poland.
According to Girteka, industry observers note that improvements in infrastructure and border procedures across Central Asia, particularly in Kazakhstan, have increased the viability of the corridor for high-value cargo.
“When air cargo corridors become uncertain, supply chains start rediscovering the value of road transport between Asia and Europe,” Užienė added.
Data from CargoWise indicated that 11,000 airfreight shipments (4.3% of the total) had experienced disruption as of 5 March.
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