Cathay Pacific on 10 March lengthened its suspension of passenger and cargo services to Dubai (DXB) and Riyadh (RUH) until at least 31 March as fighting in the Middle East continues to disrupt regional airspace. The Hong Kong flag-carrier had previously halted the routes through 14 March following US-Israeli strikes on Iran on 28 February, but said the security outlook "remains highly fluid" and further schedule changes may follow.
Cathay’s decision comes amid the most significant Gulf aviation shutdown since the pandemic. According to aviation data analysed by Air Traveler Club, more than 700 flights were cancelled at Dubai’s two airports in the first 48 hours of the crisis, while Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways diverted or grounded wide-body fleets. Major carriers now route Europe-Asia services via longer southern or polar corridors, adding 90-120 minutes flight time and inflating fuel burn.
For travellers suddenly rerouting through unfamiliar transit points, VisaHQ’s Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) can fast-track the entry visas or eVisas required for Singapore, Thailand, the UK, Schengen states and dozens of other destinations. Its online platform lets corporate mobility teams upload passports, track progress and receive approvals in hours, helping staff avoid last-minute airport refusals while airlines juggle new flight paths.
![Cathay Pacific Extends Dubai and Riyadh Flight Suspension to 31 March]()
For Hong Kong-based corporates the impact is immediate: Dubai is the city’s primary financial gateway to the Middle East and a key transit hub for Africa and Europe. Mobility teams are scrambling to reroute executives through Singapore, Bangkok or direct Europe services, often at premium fares that have tripled on some dates. Companies with project staff in the Gulf are activating emergency-travel policies that allow fee-free date changes and accommodation support.
Travel-risk specialists advise monitoring Cathay’s waiver page and considering alternative routings that bypass the conflict zone entirely. Insurers also remind firms that most corporate travel policies exclude war-zone cover unless explicit endorsements are purchased. “Duty-of-care reviews should look beyond ticket rebooking to local evacuation plans, communications and mental-health support for stranded staff,” says David Ng, regional security director at International SOS.
With no clear timeline for a de-escalation, analysts expect Hong Kong carriers to keep capacity flexible, potentially redeploying wide-body aircraft to high-demand European routes where Cathay has already announced extra London and Zurich flights for March.
Cathay’s decision comes amid the most significant Gulf aviation shutdown since the pandemic. According to aviation data analysed by Air Traveler Club, more than 700 flights were cancelled at Dubai’s two airports in the first 48 hours of the crisis, while Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways diverted or grounded wide-body fleets. Major carriers now route Europe-Asia services via longer southern or polar corridors, adding 90-120 minutes flight time and inflating fuel burn.
For travellers suddenly rerouting through unfamiliar transit points, VisaHQ’s Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) can fast-track the entry visas or eVisas required for Singapore, Thailand, the UK, Schengen states and dozens of other destinations. Its online platform lets corporate mobility teams upload passports, track progress and receive approvals in hours, helping staff avoid last-minute airport refusals while airlines juggle new flight paths.
For Hong Kong-based corporates the impact is immediate: Dubai is the city’s primary financial gateway to the Middle East and a key transit hub for Africa and Europe. Mobility teams are scrambling to reroute executives through Singapore, Bangkok or direct Europe services, often at premium fares that have tripled on some dates. Companies with project staff in the Gulf are activating emergency-travel policies that allow fee-free date changes and accommodation support.
Travel-risk specialists advise monitoring Cathay’s waiver page and considering alternative routings that bypass the conflict zone entirely. Insurers also remind firms that most corporate travel policies exclude war-zone cover unless explicit endorsements are purchased. “Duty-of-care reviews should look beyond ticket rebooking to local evacuation plans, communications and mental-health support for stranded staff,” says David Ng, regional security director at International SOS.
With no clear timeline for a de-escalation, analysts expect Hong Kong carriers to keep capacity flexible, potentially redeploying wide-body aircraft to high-demand European routes where Cathay has already announced extra London and Zurich flights for March.
