Europe UPS Large-Scale Delays: Peak-Season Congestion & Flight Shortages

Why the delays are happening: multiple factors stacked together

The current European UPS disruptions stem from a combination of three main issues: peak-season warehouse congestion, flight capacity shortages, and safety-related operational impacts. Each factor compounds the others and creates system-wide pressure.

1. Peak-season warehouse congestion

Order volumes spike dramatically during Black Friday and the Christmas season, causing many UPS sites in Germany, France, the Netherlands and elsewhere to reach capacity. Loading bay shortages and limited unload slots mean many air-to-truck and FBA-bound shipments are stuck on vehicles awaiting processing.

2. Flight capacity shortages and long wait queues

From late November, many sellers reported shipments arriving in Hong Kong and then being held for available flights. Wait times range from 5–6 days for shorter delays to 10+ days in severe cases. This flight-queue problem has been reported for other origin hubs too (for example, shipments from South Korea to Spain).

3. Safety incidents and account reviews

Industry reports also referenced a recent incident in the Netherlands involving a truck fire reportedly linked to the improper transport of lithium batteries. Following the incident, UPS implemented emergency safety protocols and temporarily flagged certain accounts for review. This has led to additional freight being returned to overseas warehouses for re-documentation and re-routing, which further slows downstream processing.

How carriers and forwarders are responding

Freight forwarders, warehouses and courier partners are taking emergency measures to reduce customer impact. Common contingency actions include:

• Re-documenting and swapping airway bills (change of house/master airwaybill) to route shipments through alternate carriers.
• Redirecting inbound loads to alternative overseas warehouses for unloading and consolidation.
• Switching final-mile delivery to other couriers such as FedEx or DHL where possible.

However, many alternative warehouses are also experiencing high utilization, which can slow down deconsolidation and onward dispatch. The industry expectation is that congestion will gradually ease as the bulk of Black Friday freight is processed.

Recommendations for sellers and shippers

While the situation is stressful, clear communication and rapid contingency planning can reduce losses. We recommend:

• Maintain continuous communication with your freight forwarder and overseas warehouse to track status and agree contingency steps.
• Consider alternate routing (e.g., different carriers or ports) when feasible to avoid single-point congestion.
• Plan earlier for year-end in future seasons—book capacity and stagger shipments to reduce exposure to peak-time bottlenecks.
• Follow contract terms for claims and compensation if delays cause quantifiable losses.

Closing note

UPS’s operational stress during peak season is a systemic industry challenge, not solely an issue of one party. Goodship56 continues to monitor developments and work with partners to provide alternative routing and expedited solutions where possible. If you have shipments affected by current delays or need help evaluating contingency options, our team is ready to assist.