Cathay Pacific has extended its suspension of passenger services to Dubai (DXB) and Riyadh (RUH) until 31 March 2026, citing ongoing regional hostilities following the late-February US–Israeli strikes on Iran. The carrier had originally halted the routes until 14 March but said renewed missile activity and airspace closures across parts of Iraq and southern Iran made over-flights unsafe. The move affects six weekly frequencies to Dubai and three to Riyadh, forcing corporate travellers to reroute via Doha, Abu Dhabi or Singapore. Flight-time extensions of 90–120 minutes and elevated fares are expected as airlines adopt longer southern or polar corridors around restricted zones. Shippers moving high-value electronics from Hong Kong to Gulf free-trade zones face capacity squeezes, with Cathay Cargo prioritising medical and perishable consignments on alternative freighters. Travel-risk departments should update advisories and rebook passengers on Oneworld partner Qatar Airways or Emirates codeshares, noting that most UAE–Hong Kong itineraries now require an extra layover.
![Cathay Pacific Suspends Dubai and Riyadh Flights Until 31 March Amid Middle-East Conflict]()
For companies scrambling to rearrange Middle-East deployments, the visa component often becomes the next bottleneck. VisaHQ’s Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) can accelerate applications for the UAE, Saudi Arabia and more than 200 other destinations, providing real-time tracking, courier pick-ups and dedicated corporate dashboards that help mobility managers keep projects on schedule despite sudden flight disruptions.
Employers must monitor duty-of-care obligations: the Insurance Authority confirmed that most corporate travel policies cover war-related diversions but not cancellations initiated by the traveller. Cathay Pacific said ticket-holders can opt for refunds, date changes or destination changes within 30 days of the original departure without fees. The airline continues to liaise with IATA and Hong Kong’s Civil Aviation Department; a resumption decision will hinge on NOTAM updates and security assessments closer to the end-March target. The suspension underscores the fragility of long-haul connectivity out of Hong Kong amid geopolitical shocks. Mobility planners should consider dual-hub strategies—routing via Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur—as contingency for Middle-East assignments and oil-and-gas projects in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
For companies scrambling to rearrange Middle-East deployments, the visa component often becomes the next bottleneck. VisaHQ’s Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) can accelerate applications for the UAE, Saudi Arabia and more than 200 other destinations, providing real-time tracking, courier pick-ups and dedicated corporate dashboards that help mobility managers keep projects on schedule despite sudden flight disruptions.
Employers must monitor duty-of-care obligations: the Insurance Authority confirmed that most corporate travel policies cover war-related diversions but not cancellations initiated by the traveller. Cathay Pacific said ticket-holders can opt for refunds, date changes or destination changes within 30 days of the original departure without fees. The airline continues to liaise with IATA and Hong Kong’s Civil Aviation Department; a resumption decision will hinge on NOTAM updates and security assessments closer to the end-March target. The suspension underscores the fragility of long-haul connectivity out of Hong Kong amid geopolitical shocks. Mobility planners should consider dual-hub strategies—routing via Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur—as contingency for Middle-East assignments and oil-and-gas projects in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
