Logistics specialist expands air freight support for Europe-Australia cargo during Middle East disruption 

Logistics experts Röhlig has recently expanded their air freight capacity for Europe-Australia cargo up to three times following the Middle East disruptions. 

The firm has also introduced contingency measures including dedicated freighter charters, expanded commercial uplift, alternative routing strategies and additional airline partnerships. 

Following the disruptions, Röhlig is advising businesses to consider if shipments need earlier booking decisions and if priority cargo should be separated from standard cargo. 

Other factors that businesses should consider are if alternative routings could affect downstream handling or customs processes and the possibility of using premium or charter options for critical movements. 

According to Röhlig, one Boeing 747 charter to Sydney added more than 100 tonnes of cargo capacity for time-critical and oversized shipments, with approximately 110 tonnes moved across 31 main deck positions and nine lower deck positions.  

For UK businesses trading with Australia or New Zealand, Röhlig  advises reviewing current routing assumptions, booking lead times, contingency options for urgent freights, and shipment visibility alongside internal escalation processes. 

Brett Smith, airfreight manager APAC at Röhlig, said: "Our customers needed capacity and fast solutions, and our team moved quickly to deliver.  

“Coordinating shipments from 101 customers across nine countries in just three days is no small task, but it shows the strength of the Röhlig network and the commitment of our people to keep supply chains moving." 

The Röhlig  Real Time platform offers quotes, shipment tracking, alerts and reporting, while Track & Trace offers milestone visibility without login.  

Pictured: Ranee Stowers, airfreight operations manager at Röhlig Australia.