Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd Jointly Plan Return to Suez Route on Key Asia–Europe Service

Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have informed customers that they plan to reroute one of their major Asia–Europe container services back through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal from mid-February 2026, reducing transit times compared with the longer diversion around Africa.

The move applies to the ME11 service, jointly operated under the Gemini Cooperation, a long-term partnership in which both carriers share vessels and coordinate schedules on key global trade routes. ME11 is one of the core Asia–Europe services within this network.

ME11 is a weekly east–west mainliner service connecting ports in the Indian Subcontinent and the Middle East with the Mediterranean. Key ports include Jebel Ali, Salalah, Mundra and other west-coast Indian ports, followed by Mediterranean gateways such as Tangier Med, Valencia, and Port Said. The service typically deploys large container vessels of around 16,000 TEU.

In a customer communication, the carriers said the rerouting via the Suez Canal represents a structural change aimed at improving efficiency and transit times. However, they emphasized that the Red Sea security situation continues to be closely monitored, with additional safety measures in place.

The decision remains conditional. Should security conditions worsen, individual sailings or the entire service could again be diverted via the Cape of Good Hope. Contingency plans remain active.

The move follows Maersk’s earlier decision to return its Middle East–India to US East Coast (MECL) service to the Trans-Suez route, while other carriers such as CMA CGM have taken a more cautious approach. The developments highlight the fragile and uneven nature of the industry’s return to the Red Sea.

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