Cathay Pacific Airways has ground to a halt on two of its key Gulf routes after Iran–Israel hostilities prompted a string of air-space closures across the Middle East. In statements released late on Sunday and again on Monday morning, the Hong Kong flag-carrier said all passenger and cargo services to Dubai are cancelled until at least Thursday (7 March), while Riyadh flights are off the board until Tuesday night. Connections that transit Doha are also being waived or rerouted. (cathaypacific.com)
The abrupt move follows notices from Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Syria and the United Arab Emirates closing large swathes of airspace after US-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets. Cathay’s Middle-East network normally supports more than 40 passenger and freighter rotations a week, carrying high-value perishables, e-commerce shipments and oil-services executives. In 2025 the airline moved some 130,000 passengers and 83,000 tonnes of cargo on the two routes alone, according to Hong Kong Airport Authority data.
For travellers scrambling to re-route through alternative hubs, VisaHQ can take the sting out of last-minute visa headaches. The Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) tracks real-time embassy advisories and can secure e-visas for popular diversion points such as Istanbul, Bangkok or Singapore within hours, helping corporate road-warriors keep projects on schedule even as flight plans change.
![Cathay Pacific suspends Dubai and Riyadh routes as Middle-East airspace closes]()
Corporate travel managers say the suspension is already rippling through regional supply chains. Pharma shippers are diverting temperature-controlled consignments through Istanbul or Bangkok, while bankers scheduled to attend a Riyadh roadshow are re-routing via Singapore. "Every extra connection adds cost and risk, so project timelines are slipping by days," said Angela Wong, mobility lead for an infrastructure MNC with teams in Dubai and Dammam.
For travellers holding tickets issued on or before 28 February, Cathay is offering free rebooking, rerouting or refunds provided changes are made before 7 March and completed by 31 May. Premium-travel insurers in Hong Kong have also activated ‘war-risk’ benefits, covering extra accommodation and evacuation costs in affected states. Employers are advised to remind staff to update their contact details on the Immigration Department’s ‘Registration of Outbound Travel Information’ (ROTI) platform to receive SMS alerts.
Industry analysts warn that further extensions are likely if hostilities escalate or jet-fuel prices—already up 13 per cent on Monday morning—remain elevated. “Cathay has no alternative but to keep crews and aircraft out of harm’s way; commercial considerations are firmly second priority,” said Brendan Sobierajski of Asian Skies Consulting. Business travellers should therefore plan for longer-than-normal lead-times, secure refundable tickets and consider virtual options where possible.
The abrupt move follows notices from Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Syria and the United Arab Emirates closing large swathes of airspace after US-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets. Cathay’s Middle-East network normally supports more than 40 passenger and freighter rotations a week, carrying high-value perishables, e-commerce shipments and oil-services executives. In 2025 the airline moved some 130,000 passengers and 83,000 tonnes of cargo on the two routes alone, according to Hong Kong Airport Authority data.
For travellers scrambling to re-route through alternative hubs, VisaHQ can take the sting out of last-minute visa headaches. The Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) tracks real-time embassy advisories and can secure e-visas for popular diversion points such as Istanbul, Bangkok or Singapore within hours, helping corporate road-warriors keep projects on schedule even as flight plans change.
Corporate travel managers say the suspension is already rippling through regional supply chains. Pharma shippers are diverting temperature-controlled consignments through Istanbul or Bangkok, while bankers scheduled to attend a Riyadh roadshow are re-routing via Singapore. "Every extra connection adds cost and risk, so project timelines are slipping by days," said Angela Wong, mobility lead for an infrastructure MNC with teams in Dubai and Dammam.
For travellers holding tickets issued on or before 28 February, Cathay is offering free rebooking, rerouting or refunds provided changes are made before 7 March and completed by 31 May. Premium-travel insurers in Hong Kong have also activated ‘war-risk’ benefits, covering extra accommodation and evacuation costs in affected states. Employers are advised to remind staff to update their contact details on the Immigration Department’s ‘Registration of Outbound Travel Information’ (ROTI) platform to receive SMS alerts.
Industry analysts warn that further extensions are likely if hostilities escalate or jet-fuel prices—already up 13 per cent on Monday morning—remain elevated. “Cathay has no alternative but to keep crews and aircraft out of harm’s way; commercial considerations are firmly second priority,” said Brendan Sobierajski of Asian Skies Consulting. Business travellers should therefore plan for longer-than-normal lead-times, secure refundable tickets and consider virtual options where possible.
