Lufthansa Cargo has confirmed a temporary suspension of cargo acceptance at four Turkish airports: Istanbul (IST), Ankara (ESB), Izmir (ADB), and Antalya (AYT). This operational change, effective until September 30, 2026, is a direct consequence of recent US sanctions affecting an unnamed local ground handling service provider in Türkiye.
For freight forwarders and operations managers, this means an immediate disruption to air cargo routes involving Lufthansa to and from these Turkish gateways. Shippers with urgent cargo or existing bookings will need to seek alternative carriers or reroute shipments through other hubs not impacted by Lufthansa's suspension. This situation will likely lead to increased transit times and potentially higher costs for airfreight to and from the affected regions, as capacity tightens and demand shifts to other airlines or modes. Forwarders should proactively communicate with clients about potential delays and explore contingency plans.
The article does not specify any further actions or alternative arrangements by Lufthansa beyond the suspension period.
