Hong Kong authorities express concerns over Cathay Pacific cancellations
22 flights cancelled over two days, including 13 on Friday, accounting for about half of the total cancellations at the airport on that day
Hong Kong authorities have expressed concerns over Cathay Pacific Airways cancelling 22 flights on Friday and Saturday due to Thursday’s adverse weather and have urged the airline to promptly and clearly explain the arrangements to affected passengers.
The Transport and Logistics Bureau on Friday night also instructed the city’s flag carrier to notify passengers of flight cancellations and related arrangements – including refunds, connecting flights and ticket conditions – at the earliest opportunity to minimise inconvenience.
The bureau said that, together with the Civil Aviation Department, it was concerned about the axed services.
The department also arranged a meeting with Cathay Pacific’s management, in which it emphasised the need to optimise staff availability and improve mechanisms for managing disruptions caused by extreme weather, to ensure stable and reliable services for passengers.
The airline said that 13 flights were cancelled on Friday and another nine on Saturday after black and red rainstorm warnings on Thursday wreaked havoc at the airport. There were also extensive weather-related air traffic control delays for all inbound and outbound aircraft.
The Airport Authority responded to the Post’s enquiries on Saturday and confirmed that 35 passenger flights were cancelled and 737 were delayed on Thursday. It added that Hong Kong International Airport resumed normal operations on Friday.