Fresh data released on 14 September by mobility news outlet Invertia confirm that geopolitical tremors in the Gulf are rippling into Spain’s largest airport. Cargo tonnage handled at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas fell 10 % year-on-year in July after several carriers trimmed or rerouted services that normally connect via Doha and Abu Dhabi. Aircraft movements dedicated to freight dropped an even steeper 24 %. Forwarders blame a cocktail of higher jet-fuel surcharges, war-risk insurance premiums and extended flight times as airlines skirt conflict airspace. The squeeze is being felt most acutely by Spanish fashion exporters who rely on fast links to Asian sourcing hubs, as well as by pharmaceutical firms shipping temperature-sensitive supplies through Middle-East gateways. Aena is urging logistics players to diversify routings through North-Atlantic corridors, noting that traffic with North America has risen 12 %. Yet alternative capacity is limited: Frankfurt and Amsterdam are charging premiums and belly-hold space on passenger flights remains tight after the summer demand surge. Mobility managers should expect longer lead times and factor volatility into cost forecasts for airborne supply chains. Insurance brokers also recommend revisiting war-risk clauses before renewing 2027 policies if tensions persist. While July’s numbers do not yet threaten Barajas’ role as southern Europe’s third-largest cargo hub, they mark the first double-digit contraction since the pandemic and could influence airline decisions on winter schedules.
Source: El Español – Invertia
