The MSC Himalaya Express service, which currently connects the Indian subcontinent with Europe via Gioia Tauro, is set to be extended to the Red Sea and beyond, including the Saudi ports of King Abdullah and Jeddah, as well as Abu Qir in Egypt.

A full return to transits via the Red Sea and Suez is explicitly part of Maersk’s plans; the company has currently restored one-third of the services that traditionally follow this route—including the AE15, AE19, MECL, and WAF6—to the lane

The MSC Himalaya Express service, which connects the Indian subcontinent with Europe via a call at Gioia Tauro, is set to be extended to the Red Sea and beyond. Additional ports of call will include the Saudi ports of King Abdullah and Jeddah, as well as Abu Qir in Egypt. The service will also cover Turkey more extensively. According to Dynaliners, the vessels deployed on the service will not transit the Bab al-Mandab Strait, but will continue to follow the route via the Cape of Good Hope. Specifically, the rotation will be: Valencia, Barcelona, Gioia Tauro, Abu Qir, King Abdullah, Jeddah, Aliaga, Valencia, Sines, Las Palmas, Colombo, Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Vizhinjam, Las Palmas, Sines, and Valencia again.

Related: MSC is back to handling over a third (34.1%) of container traffic to and from Italy.

A full return to transiting via the Red Sea and Suez Canal

A full return to transiting via the Red Sea and Suez Canal is explicitly part of Maersk’s plans. The company has restored a third of the services that traditionally follow this route, including the AE15, AE19, MECL and WAF6, to the lane. According to CEO Vincent Clerc, information available to the company indicates that the security conditions required for a full return are currently in place. “However, we will not compromise on the safety of our vessels or our customers’ cargo,” he added, suggesting a gradual transition of operations.

Related: Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd report an Asia-Mediterranean service via the Suez Canal

CMA CGM is adopting a more aggressive approach to Suez transits

CMA CGM is adopting a more aggressive approach to Suez transits, continuing to increase traffic along this waterway. According to data released by the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), the French company has sent 199 ships through the canal since the start of 2026, compared to the 212 vessels that transited the route in 2025. During a meeting with the authority’s leadership, Christine Cabau, CMA CGM's Executive Vice President of Assets and Operations, stated that the company intends to speed up its return to the Suez route, which is considered a key corridor within its network, and to increase the number of vessels passing through it even further.

Related: Saadé (CMA CGM): “Hormuz is an ongoing crisis. Prepare for alternative routes.”

Source: Shipping Italy

#CMA CGM #Suez Canal Authority #Christine Cabau #CEO Vincent Clerc#MSC Himalaya Express service#Abu Qir#ports of King Abdullah #Red Sea #Gioia Tauro#Maersk #Cape of Good Hope.