Asian airlines are scrambling to contain costs after jet-fuel prices almost doubled since late February on the back of the widening conflict in the Middle East. According to Caixin Global, average spot jet fuel hit US$197.80 per barrel in the week ending 10 April, up from US$99.40 before the war broke out. Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong’s flag carrier, said it will cancel around 2 % of planned passenger flights between 16 May and 30 June. The cuts target primarily short-haul services as well as selected routes to Australia, South Asia and South Africa where load factors cannot absorb the spike in operating costs. Subsidiary HK Express will shed about 6 % of its flights from 11 May, focusing on leisure routes with lower yields. Corporate travel managers should brace for tighter seat inventory and higher fares during the early-summer peak.
![Cathay Pacific and HK Express to trim schedules as soaring jet-fuel costs force Asian carriers to slash routes]()
Amid all these network changes, travellers may suddenly find themselves rerouted through countries they hadn't planned on transiting. VisaHQ’s Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) can quickly determine whether you need a transit or entry visa, prepare the paperwork and submit applications on your behalf, ensuring itinerary adjustments don’t get stalled by last-minute immigration surprises.
While Cathay has raised surcharges, analysts note that breakeven fuel prices for airlines are roughly US$72–76 per barrel; anything above that erodes margins and may trigger further capacity reductions if oil markets remain volatile. Other regional carriers are taking similar action. AirAsia X will suspend its Shanghai–Bangkok route from 17 April, while Thai AirAsia will drop its Xi’an–Bangkok service after 11 May. More than half of planned China–Oceania flights in April have already been axed, according to aviation-data provider Cirium, underscoring the ripple effect on Asia-Pacific connectivity. For Hong Kong-based multinationals, the immediate priorities are to reconfirm bookings for expatriate home leave, stagger non-essential travel and explore routings via Singapore, Seoul or Tokyo where capacity remains relatively stable. Experts also advise locking in hedged fares with corporate deals before additional fuel-related surcharges take effect in May.
Amid all these network changes, travellers may suddenly find themselves rerouted through countries they hadn't planned on transiting. VisaHQ’s Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) can quickly determine whether you need a transit or entry visa, prepare the paperwork and submit applications on your behalf, ensuring itinerary adjustments don’t get stalled by last-minute immigration surprises.
While Cathay has raised surcharges, analysts note that breakeven fuel prices for airlines are roughly US$72–76 per barrel; anything above that erodes margins and may trigger further capacity reductions if oil markets remain volatile. Other regional carriers are taking similar action. AirAsia X will suspend its Shanghai–Bangkok route from 17 April, while Thai AirAsia will drop its Xi’an–Bangkok service after 11 May. More than half of planned China–Oceania flights in April have already been axed, according to aviation-data provider Cirium, underscoring the ripple effect on Asia-Pacific connectivity. For Hong Kong-based multinationals, the immediate priorities are to reconfirm bookings for expatriate home leave, stagger non-essential travel and explore routings via Singapore, Seoul or Tokyo where capacity remains relatively stable. Experts also advise locking in hedged fares with corporate deals before additional fuel-related surcharges take effect in May.
