Cathay Pacific, HK Express passenger counts rise despite Mideast tensions

Cathay Pacific and its low-cost arm HK Express reported higher passenger numbers in March despite the ongoing Middle East situation. The group attributed the growth to a series of mega-events in Hong Kong, such as Art Basel and the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show.

Cathay Pacific Group reported rising passenger counts for Cathay Pacific and HK Express in March, attributing the growth to a spate of mega-events in Hong Kong, such as Art Basel and the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show. Demand for leisure travel remained strong ahead of the Easter holiday in early April.

"March was a month of contrast," said Lavinia Lau Hoi-zee, Cathay’s chief customer and commercial officer. "On the one hand, the ongoing situation in the Middle East shifted demand towards other aviation hubs and generated robust volumes on our flights. On the other hand, the price of jet fuel has increased significantly since the start of March, and this is placing huge cost pressure on airlines around the world."

The Middle East tensions, involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, have not deterred passengers from choosing Hong Kong routes, according to the group.

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Illustration depicting chaos at a French airport with canceled flights, rising airfares, and stranded tourists due to Middle East war fuel costs.
صورة مولدة بواسطة الذكاء الاصطناعي

2026 Middle East War: Surging Fuel Costs Hit French Tourism and Airfares

من إعداد الذكاء الاصطناعي صورة مولدة بواسطة الذكاء الاصطناعي

Amid ongoing disruptions from the Middle East war that began February 28, 2026—including over 37,000 flight cancellations and airline recoveries—French travel bookings have plummeted and airfares risen due to oil price surges. Agencies urge suspending trips to nine Persian Gulf nations until March 31, while Air France and KLM impose 50-euro long-haul surcharges.

Hong Kong International Airport expects revenue to grow by up to 10% this year despite disruptions from the Iran conflict, its CEO Vivian Cheung Kar-fay said. She aims to position the facility as an alternative aviation hub to the Middle East. The airport anticipates welcoming about 70 million passengers, up from 61 million last year.

من إعداد الذكاء الاصطناعي

Rising airline fuel surcharges and the Middle East conflict are deterring Hong Kong residents from long-haul travel, favoring safe and affordable high-speed rail trips to mainland China. Traveler Mr Lau and his wife took a train to neighboring Guangzhou for a three-day trip costing about HK$500. Hong Kong Tourism Association executive director Timothy Chui Ting-pong said the changes have encouraged visits to cross-border destinations.

Hong Kong's Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said on Sunday that the city's economy showed resilience in the first quarter of 2026 amid volatility in equity and oil markets caused by war in the Middle East. Investors continued moving assets to the city, drawn by mainland China's steady economic growth and a large number of initial public offerings in Hong Kong. He noted the geopolitical landscape was complex and fast-changing, with uncertainty from the United States-Israel attack on Iran clouding the stock market.

من إعداد الذكاء الاصطناعي

The 139th Canton Fair opened in Guangzhou on April 15, setting records despite Middle East tensions disrupting travel. It features over 32,000 companies, 75,700 booths and a 1.55 million square metre area. Exporters voice concerns over geopolitical risks affecting Europe and emerging markets.

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