In this episode, host Mike King and guests examine what the latest escalation of conflict in the Middle East means for freight markets, who might be paying for the Dali tragedy at the port of Baltimore, and why e-commerce is driving air cargo demand.

Drewry’s Eirik Hooper explains how the de facto closure of the Suez Canal is impacting Mediterranean ports and shipping services. And Flexport’s Neel Jones Shah explains what’s next for him and his company.

And reporting ‘live’ from IATA’s CNS Partnership conference in Dallas Fort Worth, the Loadstar’s Alex Lennane asks the Airforwarders Association’s Brandon Fried about fentanyl, US infrastructure failings and why some airline executives still do not understand the importance of forwarding.

Guests

Neel Jones Shah, EVP, Global Key Accounts and Chief Customer Officer, Flexport

Alex Lennane, Publisher, The Loadstar

Brandon Fried, Executive Director, Airforwarders Association

Eirik Hooper, Senior Analyst for Ports and Terminals, Drewry

Episode in more detail:

Dali: General Average declared (2.33)

Middle East erupts – no-fly zones, ship seizures and pirates (4.48)

IATA CNS (8.37)

Neel Jones Shah to leave Flexport (10.25)

More restricting at Flexport? (11.29)

Deliverr and the loss of Dave Clark

E-commerce and air cargo demand (15.35)

Fentanyl and resisting legislators (19.50)

US infrastructure failings (24.04)

Carriers vs air forwarders (26.07)

The future of the CNS Partnership (27.52)

Drewry’s Mediterranean update (29.25)