Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have announced a change to the routing of the Gemini alliance AE15 service, returning it to Suez Canal transit instead of the Cape of Good Hope, following a review of security conditions in the Red Sea region. The carriers said the decision came after several trial transits through the Suez Canal in recent weeks confirmed the service was ready to return to the route. The first sailing under the new routing is scheduled aboard the Majestic Maersk. Under the revised rotation, AE15 connects Asia, Europe and the Mediterranean through Qingdao, Gwangyang, Ningbo, Tanjung Pelepas, Port Said, Damietta, Colombo and Singapore. The change marks a step toward a gradual return to Suez Canal transits, shortening sailing distances and improving schedules on Asia to Europe services compared with the Cape route.
