Cathay Pacific halts Dubai flights until Thursday amid US-Israeli attack on Iran

US-Israeli strikes on Iran have grounded at least 37 flights between Hong Kong and the Middle East. Flag carrier Cathay Pacific has suspended its Dubai services until Thursday and Riyadh flights until Tuesday. The airline is offering affected customers flexibility to rebook, divert or refund tickets without usual fees until Saturday.

US-Israeli strikes on Iran have grounded at least 37 flights between Hong Kong and the Middle East, with flag carrier Cathay Pacific suspending its Dubai services until Thursday. Cathay also announced on Monday that it would suspend its Riyadh flights until Tuesday amid the developing 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.

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 were the most affected, with five passenger and 12 cargo services cancelled and another delayed. Five passenger and 13 cargo flights between Hong Kong and Doha, Qatar, were cancelled.

These disruptions highlight the impact of regional tensions on international aviation, though the airline prioritizes safety.

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Stranded passengers crowd Dubai airport terminal amid flight cancellations from escalating Middle East conflict and missile threats.
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Middle East conflict triggers widespread flight cancellations, stranding thousands in UAE, Qatar, and Israel

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Escalating tensions from US-Israeli strikes on Iran—codenamed 'Operation Epic Fury,' reportedly killing supreme leader Ali Khamenei—and Iranian missile retaliation have shut down airspace across the Middle East since February 28, 2026. Thousands of flights canceled daily, stranding hundreds of thousands at hubs like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Israel. Airlines including Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways suspended operations with limited resumptions on March 2. The UK FCDO updated warnings for 21 countries, advising against all but essential travel to several nations and shelter-in-place for British nationals.

A joint US-Israeli attack on Iran has led to the cancellation or delay of at least 27 flights from Hong Kong to Middle East destinations, stranding hundreds of travellers at the city's airport. The Hong Kong government has issued a fresh warning against travel to Iran amid the strikes. Cathay Pacific has suspended all operations in the region.

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Cathay Pacific Airways has extended the suspension of its flights to Dubai and Riyadh until March 31 amid ongoing instability in the Middle East. The decision follows US-Israeli strikes on Iran earlier this month and prioritizes passenger safety. The airline said it is closely monitoring the situation for possible further schedule changes.

The US-Israel-Iran war starting February 28, 2026, has caused over 37,000 flight cancellations in the Middle East through March 8, alongside airspace closures, nearly $1 billion in aviation losses, and oil prices up over 15%. Airlines including Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Etihad are resuming limited schedules, while Air India adds extra flights amid surging airfares and battered stocks.

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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.

A war in the Middle East involving US and Israeli bombing of Iran and Iranian missile and drone responses has led to widespread airspace closures, forcing airlines to reroute flights and creating a 2.8 million square kilometre void in busy global routes. Airlines are implementing pre-planned contingency measures, but bottlenecks are causing increasing delays and cancellations. Experts warn that the disruptions are worsening amid ongoing conflict.

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Several tennis players, including Daniil Medvedev and Henry Patten, are stranded in Dubai following the suspension of flights due to escalating Middle East tensions. The United Arab Emirates closed its airspace after US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran and subsequent retaliatory missile attacks. The disruptions come just before the Indian Wells Masters begins on March 4.

 

 

 

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