Multimodal Hubs Like Los Angeles Are Reshaping How Cargo Moves Between Asia and Europe

Geopolitics, shifting trade patterns and available capacity are changing where sea, air and land transport connect

LOS ANGELES, Calif., October 22, 2026 — Cargo bound for Europe from Asia is increasingly being routed through Los Angeles, arriving by ocean vessel, moving by truck from the port to an airport-side facility, and continuing to Europe by air. The sea-air routing is drawing interest as shippers look for alternatives when usual ocean routes are disrupted or direct air freight is expensive or restricted.

On a map, the route can look like a detour. But multimodal logistics, the practice of combining ships, planes and trucks to balance speed, cost and coverage, has never depended on the shortest line between two points. It also weighs sailing schedules, transit times, capacity, costs and how smoothly cargo transfers between modes.

Where connections make sense is changing

Multimodal logistics is not new, but recent geopolitical disruptions have pushed businesses to reconsider long-established routes. A port or airport that was once a stopover can become a key link if it offers the right schedules, road access, cargo facilities and available capacity.

In the Los Angeles routing, ocean transport covers the first leg at a lower cost than flying goods the entire way. A road transfer then connects the port to the airport before the shipment is flown to Europe.

“Global trade has always adapted to changing circumstances. What’s different today is the speed at which capacity, demand and market conditions shift,” said José Canales, Chief Operating Officer, Americas, Worldwide Flight Services (WFS),a SATS company. “This is why flexibility becomes an increasingly important part of supply chain planning.”

A middle option between air and ocean

Shipments often face a binary choice: air freight when speed matters, ocean freight when cost matters more. A shipment may not need the speed of end-to-end air freight but may be unable to wait for a traditional ocean journey. Combined routes offer a balance of time, cost and flexibility.

Industry participants note that sea-air routing does not suit every shipment, and gateways like Los Angeles are not replacing established Asia-Europe corridors. Instead, shippers are asking different questions: where capacity is available, which connections are working efficiently, and how quickly cargo can move between modes of transport.

For years, supply chain efficiency meant concentrating cargo on existing routes and reducing variation. That approach still works in some cases, but depending on a few routes can leave supply chains exposed when conditions change. Resilience, in this view, means knowing what alternatives exist and being ready to use them when capacity, cost or risk shifts.

WFS supports multimodal cargo transfers in Los Angeles, helping connect cargo to onward destinations in Europe and Latin America through integrated air, ocean and road networks.

About SATS Group

SATS Ltd. is a Singapore-headquartered provider of food solutions and gateway services. Through its cargo and ground handling business, including WFS, the group serves airlines, freight forwarders and other customers across air cargo, ground handling and related logistics services at airports worldwide.

Connect Media

Company: SATS Group

Name: Jessica Dogaojo

Email: jessica_dogaojo@sats.com.sg

Website: www.sats.com.sg