Cathay Pacific extends suspension of Dubai and Riyadh flights to 30 June amid Middle East airspace closures

A Reuters factbox published 24 April details widespread airline disruptions caused by the Iran conflict, with Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific among the carriers hardest hit. The airline has now suspended all passenger flights to Dubai and Riyadh until 30 June and halted dedicated freighter services to those cities until 31 May. The move underscores the knock-on effects geopolitical crises can have on Hong Kong’s connectivity beyond Asia. Cathay is offsetting lost Gulf capacity by adding extra services to London, Paris and Zurich to meet surging Europe-bound demand as travellers seek routings that avoid the Middle East. The redeployment mirrors strategies used during the 2020 pandemic, when Cathay pivoted wide-body aircraft to cargo and repatriation charters as passenger markets collapsed. For corporates, the extended blackout means longer itineraries or higher fares for staff heading to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. Alternatives include connecting via Singapore, Bangkok or Istanbul, but these can add four to six hours per leg. Mobility managers should also revisit assignment hardship allowances: accommodation prices in interim hubs have spiked 18 % month-on-month, according to BGRS data. Cargo shippers face their own headaches. High-tech consignments bound for Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Zone now transit through Doha or Liege, lengthening door-to-door times and increasing insurance premiums. Supply-chain teams should factor in buffer stock or explore sea-air options through Shenzhen. Cathay says it plans to resume its full Middle East schedule in July “subject to the security situation.” Until then, travel buyers should monitor Cathay’s special ticketing guidelines, which currently waive rebooking and refund fees for affected sectors.