On March 28, storms in Chicago led to over 150 flight delays at O'Hare and Midway Airports. Federal Aviation Administration imposed ground stops that added to delays. At O'Hare, a second ground stop from 8:13 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. compounded issues. Over 130 delays at O'Hare and more than 30 at Midway with minor cancellations.
The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) reported that a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck the interior of Myanmar around 12:50 p.m. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) also confirmed the earthquake's magnitude as 7.7. The epicenter is located 248 kilometers north-northwest of the capital Naypyidaw and 33 kilometers southwest of Mandalay, the second-largest city with a population of 1.2 million. The depth of the epicenter was observed to be 10 kilometers. The tremors were felt in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, over 1,000 kilometers away from Myanmar.
On March 28, a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar caused widespread damage and led to the closure of all airports in Thailand. The earthquake's tremors were felt in Bangkok, causing infrastructure disruptions and casualties. A high-rise building collapsed in Bangkok, resulting in deaths and injuries, while the city declared a disaster area. Myanmar declared a state of emergency in six regions, and the Red Cross faced challenges in providing aid due to downed power lines. Neighboring countries such as China, India, and Vietnam experienced aftershocks and infrastructure damage.
Workers at Heathrow Airport who assist passengers with restricted mobility will strike for four days starting April 5. The strike is due to a pay dispute, with Unite claiming these workers earn less than their counterparts at Gatwick Airport. Unite threatens further strikes if the dispute remains unresolved.
On March 28, several flights at Srinagar Airport were either cancelled, diverted, or delayed due to strong winds resulting from a steep pressure gradient over the region. According to airport authorities, nine flights were cancelled, while two were diverted to other airports. The adverse weather conditions not only disrupted air traffic but also caused damage to buildings and vehicles in several areas across the Kashmir Valley. Local weather departments reported gusty winds throughout the day, and advised continued caution as similar conditions were expected to persist for some time.
Belgium's nationwide strike on March 31 is expected to disrupt rail, road and air transportation. There is a possibility that trucks and staff may not be able to access the port due to congestion on the road to the port. There may be a shortage of manpower in the field of truck service, terminal and ship operation at the ports. Brussels Airport and Charleroi Airport cancel all flights departing on March 31.
Due to Rotterdam port congestion, major shipping companies adjust their services. MSC and CMA-CGM decided to exclude Rotterdam from their joint North Europe-Australian service operated under the names Nemo and Australia Express, respectively, by at least early June. Ocean Alliance (CMA-CGM, COSCO, Evergreen, OOCL, etc.) also replaced Rotterdam with Southampton Port in services connecting Europe and the Far East.
Finnair will cancel around 70 flights due to industrial action by three Finnish airline unions. The industrial action will affect operations at Helsinki Airport, including customer service, baggage handling, and ground services. The strike will take place on March 27 between 14:00 and 16:00, affecting around 6,500 customers.
The Single Union of Customs Personnel of the Argentine Republic (SUPARA) announced new strikes following unsuccessful salary negotiations with the customs authorities. The union resolved to resume the previously suspended strike measures, carrying out a work stoppage on March 25 and 26 from 10:00 to 16:00 local time. As a result of the strike, regular container handling operations at the port will be disrupted.
On March 19, Turkish Police arrested 106 people including Istanbul Mayor and his supporters. Opposite party(CHP) supporters enlarging protest rallies. No direct impact on the operation of logistics, but there may be indirect economic political effects on business. USD FX currency surge over 40TRY from 36TRY on March 19, decreased to 38TRY as of March 24.
