Latest!Major adjustments to Mediterranean routes!MSC has added a new direct port in Southern Europe,
- Author:Maintenance network
- Source:Maintenance network
- Release Date:2026-05-14
According to the latest announcement from Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), MSC will upgrade and adjust the "DRAGON" and "TIGER" routes in its Asia-Mediterranean route network from mid-May, involving adding new direct ports, optimizing the port sequence and shortening some transportation times.
DRAGON route
New direct flights to Malaga and Naples MSC said that after the "DRAGON" route is upgraded, two new direct flights will be added: Malaga in Spain and Naples in Italy.At the same time, the transportation time to Genoa and La Spezia will be further shortened, among which: the transportation time from Shanghai to Genoa is expected to be shortened by 7 days.MSC said that this adjustment will help cargo to enter the markets of southern Spain and southern Italy more directly.The first flight of the upgraded DRAGON route is expected to be: Flight FD 621W is expected to arrive in Ningbo on May 18, 2026.The order of new ports of call is as follows: Ningbo-Shanghai-Yantian-Singapore-Malaga-Genoa-La Spezia-Naples-Sines-Boston-New York-Baltimore-Norfolk-Savannah-Freeport-Ningbo.
TIGER route
Optimizing the connection between Türkiye and the Black Sea MSC simultaneously announced the operational optimization of the "TIGER" route.Among them: Tekirdag will be the first port of call.MSC said the adjustment could shorten some voyages by up to 10 days and enhance the efficiency of connections between the Black Sea and Turkish markets.In addition: the transportation time from Asia to Istanbul and Yalimja has been shortened by 4 days; Aliaga has been newly included in this route; the circulation time of some goods is expected to be shortened by about one week.The first flight of the upgraded TIGER route is expected to be: Flight GT 620W is expected to arrive in Dalian on May 15, 2026.The order of new ports of call is as follows: Dalian-Xingang-Busan-Ningbo-Shanghai-Shekou-Singapore-Tekirdag-Yarimca-Istanbul-Tekirdag-Aliaga-Mersin-Abidjan-Lome-Hong Kong-Xiamen-Dalian.
MSC continues to adjust its Asia-Mediterranean network
MSC stated that its independently operated east-west route network currently provides a total of 6 Asia-Mediterranean route services.Since this year, MSC has made adjustments to the Asia-Mediterranean network many times.In January this year, MSC announced the optimization of DRAGON and JADE routes and the addition of direct flights to Trieste in Italy.Industry data shows that MSC has been continuously optimizing its Asia-Mediterranean and transatlantic service networks recently, including: adjusting the port sequence; improving flight stability; optimizing transfer efficiency; and strengthening market coverage in southern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean.It can be seen from this adjustment that MSC is further strengthening its direct service capabilities in the markets of Southern Europe, Türkiye and the Eastern Mediterranean.Especially in the context of the current trend of port diversion in Europe and the increasing demand for transshipment in the Mediterranean region, liner companies are increasingly inclined to increase their attractiveness to high-time cargo sources by: increasing regional direct ports; shortening transportation times at key ports; strengthening the stability of independent route networks.In addition, the importance of Turkey and the Black Sea market in the European supply chain has continued to increase in recent years. MSC's adjustment to the TIGER route also reflects that the liner company is further strengthening its layout in the Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea markets.
DRAGON route
New direct flights to Malaga and Naples MSC said that after the "DRAGON" route is upgraded, two new direct flights will be added: Malaga in Spain and Naples in Italy.At the same time, the transportation time to Genoa and La Spezia will be further shortened, among which: the transportation time from Shanghai to Genoa is expected to be shortened by 7 days.MSC said that this adjustment will help cargo to enter the markets of southern Spain and southern Italy more directly.The first flight of the upgraded DRAGON route is expected to be: Flight FD 621W is expected to arrive in Ningbo on May 18, 2026.The order of new ports of call is as follows: Ningbo-Shanghai-Yantian-Singapore-Malaga-Genoa-La Spezia-Naples-Sines-Boston-New York-Baltimore-Norfolk-Savannah-Freeport-Ningbo.
TIGER route
Optimizing the connection between Türkiye and the Black Sea MSC simultaneously announced the operational optimization of the "TIGER" route.Among them: Tekirdag will be the first port of call.MSC said the adjustment could shorten some voyages by up to 10 days and enhance the efficiency of connections between the Black Sea and Turkish markets.In addition: the transportation time from Asia to Istanbul and Yalimja has been shortened by 4 days; Aliaga has been newly included in this route; the circulation time of some goods is expected to be shortened by about one week.The first flight of the upgraded TIGER route is expected to be: Flight GT 620W is expected to arrive in Dalian on May 15, 2026.The order of new ports of call is as follows: Dalian-Xingang-Busan-Ningbo-Shanghai-Shekou-Singapore-Tekirdag-Yarimca-Istanbul-Tekirdag-Aliaga-Mersin-Abidjan-Lome-Hong Kong-Xiamen-Dalian.
MSC continues to adjust its Asia-Mediterranean network
MSC stated that its independently operated east-west route network currently provides a total of 6 Asia-Mediterranean route services.Since this year, MSC has made adjustments to the Asia-Mediterranean network many times.In January this year, MSC announced the optimization of DRAGON and JADE routes and the addition of direct flights to Trieste in Italy.Industry data shows that MSC has been continuously optimizing its Asia-Mediterranean and transatlantic service networks recently, including: adjusting the port sequence; improving flight stability; optimizing transfer efficiency; and strengthening market coverage in southern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean.It can be seen from this adjustment that MSC is further strengthening its direct service capabilities in the markets of Southern Europe, Türkiye and the Eastern Mediterranean.Especially in the context of the current trend of port diversion in Europe and the increasing demand for transshipment in the Mediterranean region, liner companies are increasingly inclined to increase their attractiveness to high-time cargo sources by: increasing regional direct ports; shortening transportation times at key ports; strengthening the stability of independent route networks.In addition, the importance of Turkey and the Black Sea market in the European supply chain has continued to increase in recent years. MSC's adjustment to the TIGER route also reflects that the liner company is further strengthening its layout in the Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea markets.