Dear business partners,

due to the escalation of the armed conflict in the Middle East, we would like to inform you about the latest developments affecting both sea and air transport. We believe that this information will help you better understand the impact of these developments and enable you to plan more effectively within your supply chain.

Sea transport

• Most shipping companies have introduced a "stop booking" policy for the affected areas.
• Due to the terms of the Bill of Lading, it can be expected that cargo may be unloaded at an alternative port.
• Ships operating in the Persian Gulf, or ships heading to this area, will be temporarily anchored in safe anchorages.
• An extension of transit times must be expected.
• Routing around the Cape of Good Hope will be maintained.
• An increase in freight charges due to the so-called "war risk surcharge" must be expected, especially for shipments that are already in transit.
• The overall impact on fuel prices can be expected to be reflected in prices on other routes, especially on the route between Europe and Asia.

Air transport

• All flights to/from this area have been canceled.
• The UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, and Iran have announced a temporary suspension of their airspace.
• As a precautionary measure, airlines have also canceled or rerouted their flights through this region.
• Limited flight options and last-minute changes to carriers' flight schedules may lead to delays or longer transit times due to the expected backlog and the fact that it is not yet known when operations will resume.

Rail transport

• A temporary shift of part of the total cargo volume to rail can be expected.

We are continuously monitoring the overall situation and will continue to keep you informed of any new developments.

Your Geis CZ Air+Sea team