The line had merged the service with its other Asia/Europe loop, AEC-2, in late December 2008 as the global economic crisis fully took hold.
According to American Shipper affiliate ComPair Data, the service is operated with 11 vessels (average size 3,514 TEUs) and has a rotation of Shanghai, Busan, Xiamen, Hong Kong, Yantian, Port Klang, Khor Fakkan, Dubai, Dammam, Antwerp, Hamburg, Rotterdam, Port Said, Jeddah, Port Klang and Shanghai.
The AEC-2, which covers many of the same Asian and European ports as the AEC-1, but with only a single Middle East call, in Khor Fakkan, will continue to be operated as normal.
