FedEx and other US carriers request exemption from Middle East ban

Several US air cargo carriers, including FedEx and Atlas Air, have requested an exemption from the ban enforced by the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) on flying in selected regions of the Middle East.

FedEx argued that the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), which prohibits US civil aviation from operating in or over Iran, Iraq, the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, has negatively impacted cargo operations from the US to Bahrain and Qatar.

Among others who filed for exceptions, Atlas Air and its subsidiary Southern Air are used internationally by Amazon, while Kalitta Air operates on behalf of DHL. DHL accounts for more than half of all air freight operations at Bahrain International Airport.

International commercial flights have been diverted around the region following the US’ assassination of General Qasem Soleimani and Iran’s subsequent missile attacks, including an apparently mistaken attack on a Ukrainian passenger jet carrying 176 people.

Source: Air Cargo World, CNN

Header image: Imad Boujemaoui