COVID-19 Update

 
 
March 17, 2020

Crane Worldwide Logistics is continuing to take preventative measures to ensure all of our employees stay safe during the novel coronavirus pandemic. Currently, all of our locations are in operation and we do have a thorough continuity plan in place to ensure there are no service disruptions. 
 
The EU announced that only essential travel to the EU will be allowed for a period of at least 30 days. Visitors from non-EU states will not be allowed to enter the region for a period of at least 30 days unless they are long term residents of the EU, family members of EU nationals, diplomats or essential workers, such as doctors, nurses etc. The ban does not apply to the United Kingdom. The transport of goods is exempt from the restrictions. 
 
Below are updates on operations and carriers regarding COVID-19 impacts. 

Ocean Operations

• China’s ocean operation is back to normal. Manufacturing activities are also in process of returning to normal.
• Domestic trucking is gradually improving in China. Most drivers are back on duty.
• Space remain tight as additional void sailings are announced by ocean carriers.
• Eight additional blank sailings are announced by the 3 alliances between week 13 and 15.
• TPEB rates increased as of today March 15^th. Additional GRI are expected to go into effect on April 01. There has been an increase in spot rates.
• Blank sailings are expected to decrease by end of Apr.
• Wuhan operations is still closed. Expected return date is unknown at this time.
• Equipment and space availability is a concern across the globe.
• In the USA, reduced terminal gate hours impact container returns on the West Coast. While some carriers have advised they will waive any detention/per diem if return locations are unavailable, others might still be charging the fee.
• Advanced bookings are still recommended for all trade lanes.
• GRI from U.S. is expected to go into effect on April 01 from ports from inland origins due to limited equipment supply. 
• Free time requests are starting to become restricted globally. Existing free times are being honored so far.
• Additional fees are expected to apply by ocean carriers into and out of China.
• Atlantic trade is still relatively stable.
• Italian ports exempted from coronavirus lockdown and remain up and running.

• Carriers who are currently operating freighters: PEK/PVG/HKG or all, this is very fluid and change a moment’s notice. Space of course will be limited and is premium with no guarantee on service. KE/5X/LH/CI/NH/QR/CX/TK/FX/DHL/BR/RU/EY
• Air Bridge Cargo has added a flight to FRA continuing on to PVG.
• Air Canada Suspends all flights from YYZ to both FCO/MXP until further notice. Extends flight cancelation into Asia and now in addition to Italy now adding flight to TLV as of March 17 through March 31.
• Air France/KLM have reduced all passenger flights to one flight daily each into both AMS/CDG from ATL/JFK one DTW-CDG.  Freighters will continue per schedule. Suspended flights to and from Italy through April. All flights to/from Shanghai (PVG) and Beijing (PEK) have been suspended up to and including March 15.  AF/KLM will gradually resume operations and a normal flight schedule should be resumed March 29.
• Air India canceled flights to Italy, France, South Korean, Kuwait, Spain and Sri Lanka until April 30.
• Air New Zealand will suspend flights between Auckland and Chicago, San Francisco, Houston, Buenos Aires, Vancouver, Tokyo Narita, Honolulu, Denpasar and Taipei beginning March 20 through June 30. It is also suspending its London-Los Angeles service from March 20 through June 30. Tasman and Pacific Island network capacity will reduce between April and June. On the Domestic network capacity will be reduced by 30% in April and May but no routes will be suspended. 
• American Airlines announced additional adjustments to its schedule following decreased travel demand, a 50% reduction in April of Trans-Atlantic Capacity and seasonal routes will be delayed until early May with overall reduction by 34% for the summer season compared with its previous selling schedule. They expect to resume suspended flights as early as 7^th May. Please note the majority of their flights to London Heathrow (LHR), Manchester (MAN), and Dublin (DUB) are not affected by the U.S. administration’s restrictions. Check aacargo.com  and aa.comfor updates. 
• Africa cancelled all African airlines scheduled flights to China except for Ethiopian Airlines.
• Argentina banned international passenger flights from COVID-19 affected countries including all of Europe, United States, South Korea, Japan, China and Iran, the decree will be in place for 30 days.
• British Airways ceased operations into Shanghai and Beijing and pulled any existing crew.
• Cargolux will have an impact on the following flights to and from China; Shanghai, Zhengzhou, Beijing, Xiamen and Hong Kong.
• China Airlines reducing flights in and out of Mainland China with the exception being freighter operations.
• Cathay Pacific (and Cathay Dragon) has several flight suspensions, check their site to see the latest updates.  
• Delta had more cancellations into LHR.DUB today and into Gatemala and Quito. All flights to and from China are cancelled through April 30.  Flights in and out of Milan are cancelled; Rome flights will continue until further notice. Reduced South Korea flights and temporarily reduced the number of flights between the U.S. and Seoul-Incheon, South Korea (ICN) through April 30. DTW and SEA - reduced to five times weekly through April 30 ICN to MNL - previously scheduled to begin March 29 will now start on May 1.  
• Denmark all air traffic to from red areas hit hard by COVID-19 will be suspended.
• ELAL suspended flights to HKG, BJS.
• Emirates suspended service to Guangzhou and Shanghai until further notice.  Emirates will continue operations to/from Beijing as scheduled.
• Etihad Airways suspended flights between Abu Dhabi, Robe and Milan beginning March 14. Due to operational challenges that have resulted from the outbreak of the Coronavirus, Etihad Airways services to Hong Kong (HKG) is suspended March 29.
• EVA Air still flying into HKG/PVG/PEK at this moment. Freighter service seems normal, but PAX flights have been reduced more than 50%.
• Finnair cut more than 3,000 flights, including to cities in Italy, Germany, Croatia and Sweden. The country’s foreign ministry advised against unnecessary travel to areas in Germany, Austria and Italy.
• Iberia will cease all flights starting March 13 until further notice. 
• Korean Air flight cancelations into mainland China, refer to their website for the most current updates. Was reported today they both carriers will also suspend all flight to and from Italy.
• Kuwait will halt all commercial flights to and from the country starting Friday and until further notice, with the exception of cargo flights.
• SAS Airlines will suspend flights to Italy until April 3. Flights to Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong are suspended until April 30. It has also been reported that suspensions and flight reductions to the U.S. began March 14. 
• Saudi Arabia has reportedly banned all international passenger flights in and out of the kingdom with the exception of freighter carriers.
• Spain cancelled all flights to and from Italy until March 25.
• IAG Aer Lingus and British Airways will have their last flight on Tuesday, March 17. 
• Lufthansa will only have daily flights 1/day from JFK/IAD/ORD, freighters are unchanged. 
• Nippon Cargo (NCA) still operating at least one flight a day from NRT to HKG and PVG. NCA can connect any of the US-NRT flights to these flights. Demand is getting high especially for protective devices.
• Norwegian Air temporarily suspended flights to and from Italy. 
• Ryanair, Aer Lingus suspended all flights to and from Italy.
• Qatar didn’t have changes currently to passenger flights only for ex-patriots all others are banned. Suspended all flights into China effective February 3.
• Qantas is cutting back on all flights and those using smaller aircrafts  A380’s to 787 an updated scheduled can be viewed from their media release.
• Saudi Arabia cancelled several passenger flights to/from Saudi Arabia until further notice. Shipments with confirmed bookings have been cancelled and/or rebooked.
• Spain cancelled all flights to and from Italy for two weeks beginning March 10^th. 
• Turkish Was reported today they both carriers will also suspend all flight to and from Italy.
• Ukraine canceled some flights to Italy, Switzerland, Greece, Germany, Israel, Spain, the United Kingdom, Lithuania, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Poland, Hungary, Austria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Denmark, as well as the second frequency of certain domestic flights within Ukraine.
• United Suspends or reducing flights into some of Latin America and will reduce flights from some gateways into LHR. United will continue to fly their regular schedule from Europe to the U.S. through March 19. Flights to and from HKG have cancelled operations to PEK, PVG and CTU in China until March 28, refer to united.com for the most current updates.         
• UPS Air Cargo As a result of the increased demand to China for UPS Air Cargo Shipments, effective immediately and until further notice, all US origin shipments that are destined to China including PVG, CAN, XMN, SZX, FOC, HKG) custom rates will not apply for loose or prebuilt shipments. For your rate, please contact your Sales Representative.
• Virgin Atlantic cut international flights due to COVID-19 outbreaks. 

• Capacity is available for charters globally, contact us for current rates and availability.
• We have seen opportunities for part charters (20 tons and up) recently, but not seen regularly.  If you have an opportunity send us the details and we can work on current, part charter capacity and pricing.
• Charter prices are based on current availability and that could change rapidly.  Capacity and rates have been fluctuating a lot over the past few days.
• Crane Worldwide must have a signed charter authorization from our client before we can sign the charter contract with the provider.  Make sure you have someone standing by to sign agreements, capacity and rates change quickly.
• On all charters, funds must be received from our client prior to wheels up.

• India suspended visas for all foreign nationals coming to the country. All existing visas, except diplomatic, official, United Nations and other international organizations, employment, project visas, stand suspended till 15th April 15, 2020. 
• Italy – Remains under lock-down, anybody who wishes to travel from one city to another are required to fill out an authorization form stating the reason for the urgent travel.

• The U.S. suspended travel to the U.S. from Europe’s Schengen Area for non-U.S. citizens and legal residents.
• Any US citizen or lawful US permanent resident returning to the US, who has traveled to any of the EU Schengen Area States within the previous 14 days can only re-enter the US through one of the approved airports, foreign nationals having been within this area in the last 14 days will be unable to travel to the US. Approved airports are as follows; ATL, DFW, DTW, EWR, HNL, JFK, LAX ORD, SEA, SFO, IAD.
• Kuwait announced a public holiday in the country from March 12-26, with work resuming on March 29, companies providing vital services would remain open. 
• In Italy trucking is becoming difficult due to reduced availability as haulers stay at home along with driver shortages.  
• Kazakhstan bans entry to travellers from France, Germany, Italy, Spain because of COVID-19.
• Serbia closed its borders on Tuesdays for travelers from other countries affected by COVID-19. 
• Austria will deny entry to people arriving from Italy.
• All land, sea and air ports of China are functioning.

 
Links to related news
The below link has a very good, detailed recap of the above information:
https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2020-china-coronavirus-airlines-business-effects/
https://www.routesonline.com/news/tagged/8446/covid19-1h20-flight-changes/