Weekly Logistics Briefing Key logistics updates for the week (Week 4 of April 2025)

Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi is experiencing significant flight delays. The shutdown of one runway since April 9 and recent adverse weather have contributed to these delays. The runway upgrade is expected to improve low-visibility operations but currently limits flight capacity. Furthermore, Terminal 2 operations have been moved to Terminal 1, causing additional disruptions. Heavy thunderstorms last Friday and changing wind patterns this week exacerbated the situation.

Hundreds of port workers protested at Tanjung Priok Port due to severe traffic congestion caused by container unloading activities, resulting in 12-hour traffic jams for truck drivers and local residents. The protest was organized by the Indonesian Port Transportation Workers Federation (FBTPI) and was managed by the police with a humanist approach, providing support and coordination with protest leaders. The congestion began on Thursday, April 17, and affected both toll roads and arterial roads, with temporary road closures and advice to seek alternative routes.

The Port of Rotterdam(NLRTM) in the Netherlands is still experiencing high delays and congestion after a worker strike. Maersk reported that while the terminal returned to full capacity operations on March 12, only a tentative agreement has been reached and the voting date is still pending.

On April 18, at Belize City International Airport(BZE), a dramatic incident unfolded when a U.S. veteran attempted to hijack a Tropic Air Belize flight. The flight, en route from Corozal City to San Pedro Island, saw the hijacker, identified as Akinyela Sawa Taylor, threatening the pilot and stabbing two passengers. A passenger with a firearm shot and killed the hijacker, causing a disruption at the Belize City International Airport.

A series of labour strikes were announced in Japan after the fourth round of labour negotiations for dockworkers failed to reach an agreement. Container carrier ONE reported that dockworkers in all Japanese ports will strike for 24 hours on April 20 and 27, and dockworkers will also strike for 24 hours on Sunday, May 11. The strikes will halt all port and vessel operations nationwide.

On April 15, a Frontier Airlines flight experienced a mechanical failure during landing at Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The incident involved a wheel breaking off the plane's front landing gear, causing a terrifying experience for passengers. Despite the mechanical issues, no injuries were reported as the plane safely landed after circling the airport.

On April 17, several flights scheduled to land at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) were diverted to Mombasa and Kilimanjaro due to poor visibility caused by fog. Kenya Airways implemented this measure to ensure the safety of their crew and customers, resulting in delays for certain departures and arrivals.

Travelers abroad during Easter face potential airport delays due to strikes in several countries. In France, air traffic controllers are on strike Friday, Saturday, and the following Friday. Italy's national strike is on Saturday, affecting all major airports. Spain experiences rolling strikes at Madrid and Barcelona from Sunday to April 30. Germany and Belgium face possible short-notice air traffic control strikes. Affected airports are Madrid (MAD), Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Hamburg (HAM), Barcelona (BCN), Dublin (DUB), Frankfurt (FRA), Bahrain (BAH), and Munich (MUC).

The Argentine Customs Workers Union has announced a 12-hour strike following the breakdown of negotiations with the authorities. The strike is scheduled to take place on April 15, 16, 29, and 30, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at local time. During the strike periods, workers will be present at their workplaces but will engage in a sit-down strike, with all computers switched off.

Wage negotiations are currently underway between South Africa’s port operator (TPT) and the labor unions (UNTU and SATAWU). Of the approximately 56,000 union members, about 30,000 (54%) belong to UNTU and 15,000 (25%) to SATAWU. SATAWU has agreed to a wage increase of 6% for 2025/2026 and 5.5% for 2027. In contrast, UNTU is demanding a 10% increase along with a ban on further austerity measures, and officially declared a dispute on April 1. Management and UNTU attempted to hold negotiations on April 9, but the talks broke down. A second round of consultations on April 14 also failed to reach an agreement. Although a strike has not yet been officially announced, South African labor law allows for industrial action 48 hours after such a declaration. Taking into account the upcoming Easter holiday (Friday to Monday), there is a possibility that the strike could begin as early as Tuesday.