Photo – United Cargo
US winter storms continue to disrupt cargo operations, with United Cargo extending an embargo on all flights at Newark Liberty International Airport until tonight at 11:59pm EST.
Terminal closures were confirmed at Bradley International, Logan International, JFK International , and Philadelphia International airports, with limited operations at BWI, IAD, and Harrisburg (MDT).
The continuing embargo highlights how repeated storms continue to put pressure on the US north-east cargo corridor.
United Cargo uses real-time monitoring and early activation of contingency protocols to manage operations.
“Ahead of Winter Storm Fern, United implemented capacity protection, shipment prioritisation, and proactive customer outreach. These early, data-driven steps minimised congestion and safeguarded time- and temperature-sensitive shipments,” the airline said.
Critical goods like pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, and perishables were prioritised, with other shipments either rerouted or held at origin to avoid mid-journey disruption.”
However, the embargo extension suggests the network remains highly sensitive to successive storms, especially in hubs concentrated along the north-east corridor.
EWR, JFK, BOS, and PHL form an airport cluster that handles much of North Atlantic cargo into the US. Newark alone is a key gateway for Europe-US bellyhold traffic and a hub for Asia-US connections, via domestic feeders.
Terminal closures add another layer of difficulty. As United’s advisory alludes, even if planes can fly, freight movement on the ground – especially less-than-truckload (LTL) operations, can be impacted. In air cargo, LTLs are typically smaller shipments, consolidated in terminals or feeder trucks before being loaded onto aircraft or sent to other hubs. If terminals close or operate at limited capacity, shipments get stuck, causing knock-on effects for flights and truck movements.
For forwarders, it could mean managing backlogs, container shortages, and warehouse congestion once embargoes lift.
By extension, when north-east hubs like EWR, JFK, or BOS are embargoed or closed due to weather, forwarders and airlines will likely divert cargo via other gateways, such as Chicago (ORD) or Washington (IAD), to keep goods moving, even if that complicates routing and increases ground handling. These alternate paths can become congested or add transit time.
Holding cargo at origin may prevent in-transit problems, but it shifts the disruption to shippers that have to manage storage and timing. For time-sensitive goods, like pharma or perishables, even short delays can have business consequences.
Industry observers suggest that winter disruptions can also potentially affect airfreight spot rates. In late January, Europe to North America spots reportedly rose around 21% month on month, reflecting tight capacity. This month’s slower, pre-Chinese New Year, demand may have prevented a sharp spike, but repeated embargoes could still support short-term rate increases, especially for critical shipments or alternative routes.
For Asia-US shipments, the biggest impact is perhaps on the ground: delays to feeder flights into Newark (EWR) mean higher trucking costs and longer wait times, rather than higher airfreight rates, according to an industry source. Shippers depending on north-east gateways for final delivery may face extra operational challenges and added expenses.
United Cargo has invested in forecasting, predictive tools, and better communication to manage winter disruptions, it said. Yet the embargo highlights the limits of even advanced planning when multiple storms hit concentrated hubs.
Forwarders and shippers are being reminded that relying heavily on high-value cargo through weather-sensitive north-east hubs creates risk, as repeated winter storms keep challenging the resilience of the US bellyhold network
The next few days will show whether rerouting capacity, proactive planning, and quick recovery operations can truly keep critical cargo moving through one of the busiest and most exposed parts of the US network.
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