COVID-Related Restrictions Force Cargo Airlines to Cancel Hundreds of China Flights

Friday, August 13, 2021 at 07:20 PM ET

Verified

Chinese and international airlines are canceling cargo and passenger flights at airports such as Shanghai Pudong International because of COVID. wikimediaimages/Pixabay

Key Takeaways:

Chinese COVID-19 restrictions, in response to a spike in infections, have led to hundreds of cargo flight cancellations and severe disruptions at major airports.
Strict quarantine protocols have drastically reduced the availability of essential airport staff for cargo handling and airline crew, exacerbating operational challenges.
The resulting scarcity of air cargo capacity is expected to drive freight rates significantly higher, potentially five to six times above normal, during the peak shipping season.