CALIFORNIA/ DUBAI: A new ban on US travel for nationals of seven Middle Eastern countries caught the airline industry unprepared, with flight crews from those states also barred from entering, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said on Saturday.
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has briefed the global trade group that passport-holders from states such as Iran and Iraq, including cabin crew, will be barred entry to the US, IATA said in an e-mail to its member airlines, seen by Reuters.
The e-mail underscores airlines’ confusion about the situation as well as the challenge some may face from crew scheduling. Airlines also stand to lose business: For instance, around 35,000 travelers from Iran visited the US in 2015, according to the US Department of Homeland Security.
“Much of this development has come over the weekend and at a time when IATA’s Facilitation team has been on duty travel. Unfortunately, our response has been slower than we would have preferred,” the e-mail said. “A number (of questions) have yet to be resolved.”
The executive order by President Donald Trump bans travelers with passports from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days.
IATA was informed that lawful permanent residents of the US — or green-card holders — from those countries are not included in the ban.
However, a Trump administration official told reporters that green-card holders from the countries need to check with a US consulate to see whether they can return, causing some confusion for airlines, which still plan to follow CBP guidance.
Gulf airlines Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways said earlier on their websites that passengers would need a green card or diplomatic visa to enter the US.
Emirates airline has had to change flight attendant and pilot rosters on services to the US following the sudden travel ban on seven Muslim-majority countries, an airline spokeswoman said Sunday.
“The recent change to the US entry requirements for nationals of 7 countries applies to all travelers and flight operations crew,” the spokeswoman said in e-mailed comments. “We have made the necessary adjustments to our crewing, to comply with the latest requirements.”
Another spokeswoman later told Reuters by phone the impact of the roster changes on the airline would be minimal due to its diverse workforce.
Etihad Airways, based in the UAE’s Abu Dhabi, did not immediately comment on the impact of the ban on its flight crew.
A Qatar Airways spokeswoman directed Reuters to a statement on its website that said passengers would need a green card or diplomatic visa to enter the US Emirates and Etihad have a similar statement on their websites.
“To date, no Emirates crew has been impacted by the change,” the initial spokeswoman said. On Saturday, Emirates said that a “very small number” of its passengers traveling had been affected by the ban.
Emirates “continues to comply with the guidance provided to us by the US Customs and Border Protection” and US flights are operating to schedule, the airline said on Sunday.
Some flight crews barred from entering US: IATA
Some flight crews barred from entering US: IATA
Saudi ports brace for cargo surge as shipping lines reroute
RIYADH: Preliminary estimates suggest that several global shipping lines could reroute part of their operations to Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea ports, potentially adding 250,000 containers and 70,000 vehicles per month, according to Rayan Qutub, head of the Logistics Council at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce, in an interview with Al-Eqtisadiah.
“Any disruption in the Strait of Hormuz not only affects maritime traffic in the Arabian Gulf but could also reshape global trade routes,” Qutub said, highlighting the strait’s status as one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints for energy and goods transport.
With rising regional tensions, international shipping companies are reassessing their routes, adjusting shipping lines, or exploring alternative sea lanes. This signals that the current challenges extend beyond the Arabian Gulf, impacting the global supply chain as a whole.
Limited impact on US, European shipments
The effects of these developments will not be uniform across trade routes. Qutub noted that goods from China and India, which rely heavily on routes through the Arabian Gulf, are most vulnerable to disruption. In contrast, shipments from Europe and the US typically traverse western maritime routes via the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, making them less susceptible to regional disturbances.
Saudi Arabia’s strategic location, he emphasized, strengthens the resilience of regional trade. The Kingdom operates an integrated network of Red Sea ports — including Jeddah, Rabigh, Yanbu, and Neom — that have benefited from substantial infrastructure upgrades and technological enhancements in recent years, boosting their capacity to absorb increased cargo volumes.
Red Sea bookings
Several major carriers, including MSC, CMA CGM, and Maersk, have already opened bookings to Saudi Red Sea ports, signaling a shift in operational focus to these strategically positioned hubs.
However, Qutub warned that rerouted shipments could increase sailing times. Cargo from Asia, which normally takes 30-45 days, might now require longer voyages via the Cape of Good Hope and the Mediterranean, potentially extending transit to 60-75 days in some cases.
These changes are also reflected in rising shipping costs, driven by longer routes, higher fuel consumption, and increased insurance premiums — a typical response when global trade patterns shift due to geopolitical pressures.
Qutub emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s transport and logistics sector is managing these developments through coordinated government oversight. The Ministry of Transport and Logistics, the Logistics National Committee, and the Logistics Partnership Council recently convened to evaluate the impact on trade and supply chains. Regular weekly meetings have been established to monitor developments and implement solutions to safeguard the stability of supplies and continuity of trade.
He noted that the Kingdom’s logistical readiness is the result of long-term strategic investments, encompassing ports, airports, road networks, rail systems, and logistics zones. Today, Saudi logistics integrates maritime, land, rail, and air transport, enabling a resilient response to global disruptions.
Qutub also highlighted the need for the private sector to continuously review logistics and crisis management strategies, develop alternative plans, and manage strategic stockpiles. Such measures are essential to mitigate temporary fluctuations in global trade and ensure smooth supply chain operations.
