Cathay Pacific confirmed on 28 September that its Hong Kong–Dubai (CX 745/746) and Hong Kong–Riyadh (CX 637/638) passenger services will remain suspended until at least 31 January 2027, citing ‘ongoing regional instability’ in the Middle East. The flights were originally slated to resume on 1 December 2026. The flag carrier will offer affected customers free rebooking, routing via codeshare partners or full refunds. Cargo-only rotations, operated by Boeing 747-8F freighters, may restart sooner “subject to security assessments”. For mobility planners, the extension removes a key nonstop option between Hong Kong and the Gulf, affecting oil-and-gas contractors, infrastructure advisers and technology firms with projects in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Alternative routings through Doha, Abu Dhabi or Singapore add 2–4 hours of travel time and, in some cases, overnight layovers. Travel-risk consultants note that insurance premiums for corporate travellers to the Middle East have risen 12 % since July, and some firms now require executive-level approval for itineraries involving high-risk airspace. Companies should update duty-of-care protocols and verify that employees use approved connecting carriers that avoid conflict zones. Cathay emphasized that it continues to monitor geopolitical developments and will provide an update by mid-December. Mobility programmes using the carrier’s corporate contract should watch for revised fare caps once service resumes, as aircraft substitution to smaller A350-900s is possible.
Source: The Standard (Hong Kong)
