Hapag-Lloyd launches South-East India – Europe Express Service // IEX to start operations in October 2019

To further strengthen and optimize its market-leading position in South-east India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to and from North Europe, Hapag-Lloyd will be launching the new South-East India – Europe Express (IEX) service in October 2019. The service will include direct connections between India, the Middle East (Jeddah and Damietta) and Europe (Piraeus, Le Havre, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Hamburg and London Gateway).  
 
“Our customers have been talking to us about their growing needs in the Indian and Bangladeshi markets, and we have been listening. The introduction of the IEX is a game changer, as it will be the first dedicated direct service from South-east India to Europe, offering connectivity to the global network of Hapag-Lloyd”, says Dr. Maximilian Rothkopf, Chief Operating Officer at Hapag-Lloyd.  
 
The weekly IEX service, to be jointly operated with ONE, YML and COSCO, will be made up of nine 6,500 TEU vessels, with Hapag-Lloyd contributing four ships.  
 
The first departures are scheduled for 26 October with the following port rotation:  
 
Visakhapatnam – Krishnapatnam – Chennai – Tuticorin – Colombo – Cochin – Damietta – Piraeus – Rotterdam – London Gateway Port – Hamburg – Antwerp – Le Havre – Damietta – Jeddah – Colombo – Visakhapatnam.