News in Brief podcast | Week 18 2026 | Hormuz, Suez returns and air cargo's struggle

This week’s News in Brief dives back into the ongoing disruption in the Middle East, as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed and oil prices continue to ripple through global supply chains. But while uncertainty persists, there are signs of shifting strategy  with CMA CGM doubling down on Red Sea transits, raising the question of whether other carriers will follow and what that could mean for freight rates. 

Charlotte Goldstone is joined by Xeneta’s Peter Sand to break down the latest on ocean freight, from the risk of a renewed rate war to what improving schedule reliability really means beneath the surface. 

On the airfreight side, Alex Lennane unpacks a market still under pressure. Capacity is slowly returning, but jet fuel shortages and high prices are keeping rates elevated and operations tight. We also look at flight cuts in Chicago, Kuehne + Nagel’s latest earnings, and a deep dive into Cathay Cargo and the “cruel paradox” facing the carrier amid ongoing disruption. 

From Suez strategy to fuel strain, this episode maps the key forces shaping freight right now.