Premier Alliance Resumes Suez Routing for Asia-Europe Services | Mariner News
The Premier Alliance, comprising container shipping giants ONE, HMM, and Yang Ming, is set to resume Suez Canal transit for two key Asia-North Europe services, marking a significant return to the Red Sea route. This development, reported by sector specialist Alphaliner, continues a broader trend of major carriers reverting from Cape of Good Hope diversions.
The change will affect the FE1 Southeast Asia-North Europe service and the IOX/INX Indian Subcontinent-North Europe service. Both services previously rerouted due to security concerns.
The FE1 service will initiate its Suez return with the 8,110 TEU container ship One Continuity, departing Laem Chabang on October 19. Its first westbound Suez passage is scheduled for November 9. The round-trip duration for the FE1 will be shortened from 13 weeks to 11 weeks.
Similarly, the IOX/INX service will begin its shorter route from Hazira on October 22 aboard the 7,164 TEU One Reliability, with a planned westbound Suez transit on November 17. This service’s round trip will be reduced from 13 weeks to 10 weeks.
The reduction of 2-3 weeks in round-trip time for these services carries a direct operational implication. Maintaining weekly frequency on these loops will require fewer vessels. This freeing up of specific container vessels (such as One Continuity, One Reliability, and other vessels within their respective loops) could marginally increase vessel availability within the alliance’s fleet or for redeployment, particularly for ships of comparable size.
The Premier Alliance’s decision follows similar moves by other major container lines. Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk have already resumed Suez transits under their Gemini Cooperation, while CMA CGM has returned on selected services. MSC also previously announced a partial return to the Suez Canal.
