Cathay Pacific extends suspension of flights between Hong Kong, Middle East to end of May

2026.03.24 08:20 Cathay Pacific planes parked at Hong Kong International Airport in Chek Lap Kok. Photo: Sam Tsang Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways has further extended its suspension of all flights to and from the Middle East until the end of May, amid a regional conflict that shows little sign of abating. But the airline will increase flights to Europe starting next month to cater to surging demand. In an announcement on Tuesday, Cathay said flights between Hong Kong and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, as well as between the city and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, would remain suspended until the end of May. “We are monitoring the situation closely and will remain agile in our response,” the airline said. “The safety of our customers and people guides every decision we make.” Affected travellers will be offered flexibility to rebook, reroute or cancel their tickets, Cathay said. Smoke billows from a building in Tel Aviv following an Iranian missile strike on Tuesday. Photo: AP Meanwhile, in response to a surge in demand for flights to Europe, the airline said it would operate three additional return flights to Paris in France and Zurich in Switzerland next month, while adding seats on 13 return flights to the British capital, London. The airline has extended its suspension of the Middle East routes multiple times. It announced just last week that services would be cancelled until the end of April. An escalation in regional hostilities, triggered by reciprocal strikes between US-Israeli forces and Iran, has severely disrupted Middle Eastern airspace, leading to a massive wave of flight cancellations affecting millions of travellers. More to follow …

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