432 Hongkongers stranded in Middle East and 47 flights cancelled

US-Israeli strikes on Iran have grounded at least 47 flights between Hong Kong and the Middle East, with flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways suspending its Dubai services until Thursday and immigration authorities reporting 432 residents are stranded in the region. The Airport Authority said that as of 9pm on Monday, 14 passenger flights were cancelled and one was delayed, with at least 12 more axed for Tuesday. Cathay also announced on Monday that it would suspend its Riyadh flights until Tuesday due to the escalating situation in the region. The carrier said customers booked to travel between Hong Kong and Dubai or Riyadh would be offered more flexibility to rebook, divert or refund their tickets, with usual fees waived until Saturday. “We’re continuing to monitor the situation closely. Further changes to our flight schedule may be needed in the coming days, with the safety of our customers and people being our first priority,” the carrier said. The Immigration Department said that as of 5pm on Monday, it had received inquiries from 432 Hong Kong residents in the region, including requests for updates on flight arrangements. “All individuals who made inquiries reported that they are in safe locations,” it said. A check by the South China Morning Post on the Hong Kong airport website found that flights between the city and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were the most affected, with six passenger and 15 cargo services cancelled and another delayed. Four passenger and 17 cargo flights between Hong Kong and Doha, Qatar, were also cancelled. A pair of Cathay flights to Riyadh and two Etihad Airways flights from Abu Dhabi were also axed. One more Riyadh-bound cargo flight was cancelled. Passengers were stranded around the world as airlines diverted to avoid the Middle East, where most countries closed their airspace after Iran launched retaliatory strikes on Gulf cities. Iran, Iraq, Israel, Syria, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE had all announced at least partial airspace closures. Yuen Chun-ning, CEO of travel agency WWPKG, said two of its tour groups were stranded in Dubai, involving more than 20 travellers who left on Friday and were scheduled to return to Hong Kong on Wednesday. “We are liaising with the hotel to extend their stay, as their return flights have been cancelled,” he said, adding that the agency would consider arranging their return via Turkey if necessary. Yuen said the tour members had been advised to prioritise their safety by remaining in the hotel, adding that any injuries sustained would not be covered by insurance because of the war. He added that all tour groups had been cancelled until next Tuesday, with customers to receive full refunds. Among those stranded in Dubai was the Hong Kong women’s football team, which would stay on and continue to complete its remaining fixtures at the Pink Ladies Cup in the city despite the volatile situation in the Middle East. On Monday, the city’s football association confirmed that players and coaches were “safe and stable”, and that the team was currently in their hotel in the UAE. The association said it would maintain close communication with the relevant government departments to provide maximum support, ensuring the team’s safety and facilitating their swift return to Hong Kong. The Hong Kong team, which lost 4-0 to Ghana in their opening match at the Al Hamriya Stadium on Saturday, is expected to return home on Sunday after playing two more scheduled matches. Organisers have given no indication of cancelling the remaining matches. The team will face Tanzania on Wednesday, before wrapping up the four-team tournament against Russia two days later. The Education Bureau said that 40 students and five teachers from three primary schools had returned to Hong Kong safely after completing their exchange tours in Dubai. It said the schools had informed parents and their incorporated management committees of the situation, and that the bureau would remain in contact with families to monitor pupils’ emotional well-being and provide appropriate support. The bureau also said a secondary school that had planned a trip with a transit in Dubai had changed its flight route to avoid the city in light of the conflict. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po warned that financial markets would inevitably experience significant volatility, given that the regional conflict was still in its early stages. “For us, the free flow of capital in and out of Hong Kong is one of our core advantages. In addition, with the Hong Kong dollar pegged to the US dollar, the exchange rate remains relatively stable,” he told a radio programme. “In the past, whenever there was any turmoil, we have always been one of the ‘safe havens’ with capital flowing in.” Additional reporting by Mike Chan

432 Hongkongers stranded in Middle East and 47 flights cancelled

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Cathay Pacific also suspends Dubai and Riyadh flights, as attacks force countries to close airspace

Cathay Pacific also suspends Dubai and Riyadh flights, as attacks force countries to close airspace