Hong Kong travel agency WWPKG has canceled all group tours to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) scheduled before March 10 for safety reasons after the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran.
WWPKG stated that it will issue refunds to affected customers in accordance with the Travel Industry Authority’s instructions.
The Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) noted that as of 5pm on Sunday (Mar 1), 12 flights have been canceled. It added that eight flights will be canceled on Monday (Mar 2).
The city flag carrier Cathay Pacific suspended all operations in the Middle East on Sunday, including passenger services to and from Dubai and Riyadh. Flights typically passing over the affected area are being rerouted. It is waiving rebooking and rerouting fees for return tickets to and from Dubai and Riyadh.
The Security Bureau has issued a “red” Outbound Travel Alert for Iran or Israel on Saturday, indicating a significant threat to personal safety, and urged citizens to adjust their plans and avoid non-essential trips to both countries.
The Immigration Department stated that it has not received any request for assistance from Hong Kong residents so far.
Shaw, who is doing business in Russia and had planned a brief two-day stopover in Dubai before continuing to Berlin, noted that her flight was canceled on Saturday because of the escalation, and it remains uncertain whether her trip will proceed.
Her flight was originally scheduled to depart Moscow at 4.45pm local time, but the airline’s notice postponed departure to 7.45pm and the flight was later canceled.
She noted that the airline has not yet arranged accommodation for stranded passengers, leaving her to wait for further notices. She felt unsettled because of the unexpected disruption on her itinerary. “I don’t know what to do, so I will just stay in Russia for another day,” she said.
She added that some of her fellow travelers planned to transit through Dubai on Saturday night to return to Hong Kong. However, there is no clear information on when they will be able to depart.
(Updated at 6.26pm)
