Middle East tensions disrupt 27 flights in HK

Fourteen flights were canceled and one was delayed as of 9pm on Monday in Hong Kong amid the rising tensions in the Middle East, according to the Airport Authority Hong Kong.

There will be 12 flights being canceled on Tuesday, AAHK added.

The city’s flag carrier Cathay Pacific has suspended its Dubai flights until Thursday (Mar 5), while its Riyadh services have been halted until Tuesday (Mar 3). 

The Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong noted that due to the situation in the Middle East, apart from the tourists stranded locally, Dubai and Doha airports – the region’s major transit hubs – have suspended all flights, which also affects air traffic between Europe and Africa. 

As it is uncertain when flights will resume, it is difficult to estimate the actual number of affected passengers at the time, but it has been confirmed that all passengers are safe. 

The Council added that many tour groups were originally scheduled to transit in the region. Each additional day of flight suspension will affect or strand more groups, and the exact number cannot be confirmed yet. 

(Updated at 9.43pm)