Cathay Pacific Halts 22 Flights Within 48 Hours at Hong Kong Airport
HONG KONG- Cathay Pacific Airways (CX) has halted 22 flights over two days due to severe weather conditions causing disruptions at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG).
On Friday, 13 flights were canceled, followed by an additional nine on Saturday. The city faced record-breaking black and red rainstorm warnings, leading to widespread air traffic control delays.
Cathay Pacific’s Flight Cancellations
On Thursday, the city issued its fifth black rainstorm warning of the year, a level not seen since record-keeping started in 1998. The torrential downpour severely disrupted operations at Hong Kong (HKG), affecting both incoming and outgoing flights.
Reports indicate that the storm forced some Cathay Pacific (CX) aircraft and crews to remain overnight outside Hong Kong, complicating the airline’s scheduling network.
To stabilize its services, Cathay Pacific decided to cancel 13 flights on Friday and 9 flights on Saturday, mainly impacting regional routes.
Friday’s 13 canceled flights included:
- CX725 to Kuala Lumpur (KUL)
- CX724 to Kuala Lumpur (KUL)
- CX356 to Nanjing (NKG)
- CX357 to Nanjing (NKG)
- CX655 to Phnom Penh (PNH)
- CX600 to Phnom Penh (PNH)
- CX903 to Manila (MNL)
- CX902 to Manila (MNL)
- CX978 to Xiamen (XMN)
- CX979 to Xiamen (XMN)
- CX617 to Bangkok (BKK)
- CX711 to Singapore (SIN)
- CX362 to Shanghai (PVG)
Saturday’s cancellations included:
- CX361 to Shanghai (PVG)
- CX658 to Singapore (SIN)
- CX700 to Bangkok (BKK)
- CX536 to Nagoya (NGO)
- CX539 to Nagoya (NGO)
- CX418 to Seoul (ICN)
- CX419 to Seoul (ICN)
- CX755 to Bangkok (BKK)
- CX754 to Bangkok (BKK)
Recovery Efforts
Cathay Pacific has confirmed that all affected passengers were contacted and rebooked onto alternative flights. The airline encourages travelers to check their booking confirmations and to online check in prior to arriving at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG).
Passengers are also advised to keep an eye on the flight status for any last-minute updates, as operational adjustments may continue due to changing weather conditions.
Cathay Pacific’s Response
Cathay Pacific (CX) is concentrating on reinstating its flight schedule swiftly while prioritizing safety. The airline has issued an apology for any inconvenience and expressed appreciation for the patience of its passengers during this difficult time.
To aid affected travelers, flexible ticketing options are available, allowing them to rebook or reroute flights without extra charges for travel completed by October 31, 2025, subject to availability.
Passengers who booked through third-party agents should directly contact those agents for assistance with rebooking or refunds.
Effect on Regional Air Travel
The majority of cancellations affected regional Asian routes, highlighting how vulnerable short-haul schedules are to severe weather conditions. Heavy rainstorms can greatly influence crew positioning, aircraft rotation, and airport operations, causing disruptions across various destinations.
By implementing these immediate cancellations, Cathay Pacific aimed to shield passengers from prolonged delays and facilitate quicker operational recovery. While the intense weather has subsided, a return to normal flight operations is anticipated in the coming days.
What are your thoughts on how airlines should handle weather-related disruptions?
