Weekly Logistics Briefing Key logistics updates for the week (Week 2 of May 2024)

Due to low visibility due to forest fire smoke, Honduras authorities temporarily shut down Toncontin International Airport (TGU) in Tegucigalpa on May 2 until further notice. At least 15 regular flights are prohibited from departing from TGU, and at least 8 flights scheduled to arrive at the airport have not arrived. It is highly likely that the suspension of operations will continue at TGU until at least May 3, and there may be operational failures due to backlog processing even after the airport reopens.

The ground staff union is scheduled to strike at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) from May 5 to 13. Strike ranges are passenger service, trolley operation, security, firefighter, AirSide operation, etc.. The Unite labor union criticized the airport's policy of outsourcing ground staff services. About 800 employees are expected to participate in the strike. Unite announced that the strike would "inevitably cause widespread confusion throughout the airport, causing delays and confusion".

The labor unions of Canadian National Railway Company (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) announced on May 1 that they voted overwhelmingly for the strike as early as May 22. Contracts covering locomotive engineers, conductors and yard workers at CN and CPKC expired on Dec. 31, 2023, and Teamsters Canada Rail Conference is re-negotiating a third agreement covering CPKC rail traffic controllers. The three worker groups, numbering 9,300 workers, each voted over 95% to authorize a strike. The sides have made no progress in six months of negotiations, said Teamsters Canada president Paul Boucher, adding that the companies were trying to remove rest provisions that are critical to safety. A mandatory 21-day federal mediation period begins, and the Canadian government urges both sides to negotiate faithfully.

Truck drivers at the Tema port in Ghana have initiated a sit-down strike to address grievances related to safety and legal concerns. The drivers are protesting against armed robbery attacks and unlawful detentions. In a public notice, the drivers said no truck would be operational at the ports. A press conference has been scheduled at the JAPTU Ghana Secretariat at Tema Port to further communicate their issues and demand immediate action.

In Singapore, recent heavy rainfall has triggered flood warnings and disrupted several events and services. Singapore's national water agency PUB issued its first flash flood warning of the day at about 6.55am. Heavy rainfall of 107.2mm was recorded in western Singapore from 7.30am to 1.30pm. The intense rain caused delays in numerous flights at Changi Airport, including two flights to Japan operated by Singapore Airlines.

Due to port congestion caused by the Red Sea crisis, regular ship services skipped calls, disrupting Indian trade. Container shipping companies are suffering from connection service stability problems departing from India. The long journey back to southern Africa and congestion at hub ports, including Jebel Ali, have hit operations. CMA CGM and MSC announced port of call changes for various Indian services to restore schedule. On April 30, CMA CGM told Indian customers its North Europe-Mediterranean-Oceania (NEMO) service, which recently added a call at Ennore, would be omitting Tanger Med, due to heavy congestion, transhipping cargo for the Moroccan port via Hamburg and Valencia. MSC’s Indus service from West India to US east coast has also been buffeted by schedule disruptions, with the MSC Agata II voiding India calls. The carrier blamed “severe port congestion and operational constraints”.

Railway unions linked to the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF) are scheduled to strike across England and Scotland from May 7 to 9. Purpose of strike is to increase salary and refusal to work overtime from May 6 to May 11. Strike schedules are c2c, Greater Anglia, GTR Great Northern Thameslink, Southeastern, Southern, Gatwick Express and South Western Railway on May 7, Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway and West Midlands Trains on May 8, and LNER, Northern Trains and TransPennine Expres on May 9

Hawaii Department of Transportation closed 4R 22L, one of the major runways at Daniel K.Inouye International Airport in Honolulu. The 9,000 foot runway will be closed through June 7. Transpacific arrivals will be prioritized and travelers should expect delays on interisland flights departing from midmorning to early afternoon.

Unionized railway workers associated with the Coordinamento Autorganizzato Trasport (CAT) union plan to strike across Italy from 21:00 May 3 to 21:00 May 5. From 21:00 on May 3rd to 21:00 on May 4th, CAT employees will stop working on freight trains and stop passenger train-related activities from 21:00 on May 4 to 21:00 on May 5. During the strike period from May 3 to 4, cargo transportation may be disrupted nationwide.

On May 1st, May Day, union members belonging to various unions, including The Civil Servants' Confederation (ADEDY) and the Greek General Confederation of Labor (GSEE), will go on strike 24 hours a day across Greece on May 1. Union leaders have issued a call for participation in the work suspension from employees across all sectors, including members of the Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO), the principal union representing maritime labourers. ADEDY and GSEE also urged strikers and supporters to stage a protest in Athens' Klaftmonos Square at 11 a.m.. On May 1, national railroads, intercity railroads, and ferries in Greece will be suspended.