Quick summary
Cathay Pacific has extended its suspension of all flights to Dubai and Riyadh through March 31, 2026, affecting thousands of passengers on Asia-Europe routes that transit the Gulf. The Hong Kong carrier announced the extension on March 10 — the third progressive delay since US-Israeli strikes on Iran triggered regional airspace chaos on February 28. More than 40,000 flights across the Middle East have been canceled in the past 10 days, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.
Cathay’s waiver policy covers bookings through April 30, allowing free rebooking or refunds. Emirates and Qatar Airways continue operating to Dubai and Doha, but availability is tightening as displaced passengers reroute.
The suspension — initially set to end March 14 — now runs through the end of the month, with Cathay Pacific citing “the safety of our customers and people” as the deciding factor. The airline warned that further extensions remain possible as the regional conflict shows no signs of resolution.
Passengers booked on Hong Kong–Dubai or Hong Kong–Riyadh flights through March 31 must act immediately.
The carrier activated a comprehensive waiver allowing affected travelers to rebook to different dates, reroute via alternative cities, or claim full refunds without administrative fees.
What triggered the suspension and why it keeps extending
The crisis began with coordinated US and Israeli military strikes against Iran on February 28, which rapidly escalated into retaliatory attacks by Tehran. The conflict forced multiple Middle Eastern nations to close or restrict their airspace, creating a cascading effect across the region’s busiest aviation corridors.
Cathay Pacific first suspended Dubai and Riyadh services on February 28, then extended the suspension to March 14 on March 3, and now through March 31 as of March 10. The progressive delays mirror the unpredictability that characterized the 2022 Russia-Ukraine airspace closures, where airlines extended suspensions weekly as conditions remained volatile.
The scale of disruption is unprecedented for the Middle East. As of March 10, more than 40,000 of 72,000 scheduled flights in the region have been canceled since the conflict began — a 56% cancellation rate in just 10 days, according to data from Cirium.
Between the lines
Cathay’s decision to suspend freighter operations via Al Maktoum International Airport signals deeper operational concerns than passenger safety alone. Dubai is a critical cargo hub for Asia-Europe pharmaceutical and electronics trade — the suspension disrupts supply chains that typically move $2 billion in goods weekly through the emirate.
The airline’s waiver window extending through April 30 (three weeks beyond the current suspension end date) suggests internal modeling expects unsafe conditions through early April, with potential gradual resumption mid-month at earliest.
| Route | Original suspension | First extension | Current end date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong–Dubai | Feb 28–Mar 5 | Mar 14 | Mar 31 |
| Hong Kong–Riyadh | Feb 28–Mar 3 | Mar 14 | Mar 31 |
| Freighter (Al Maktoum) | Feb 28–Mar 5 | Mar 14 | Mar 31 |
At least 27 flights bound for Middle Eastern destinations were canceled at Hong Kong International Airport in the first week of the conflict, with some passengers told accommodation costs would be at their own expense — a policy Cathay later reversed under the expanded waiver.
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Alternative carriers still operating, but capacity is tightening
Emirates continues operating three daily services between Hong Kong and Dubai: one direct flight and two routed via Bangkok. Qatar Airways maintains its Doha–Hong Kong service, though both carriers are absorbing displaced Cathay passengers and availability is shrinking.
According to Emirates’ schedule, the carrier operated one direct and two Bangkok-stopover flights on March 12, with similar frequency planned through the month.
The operational reality for travelers: booking alternatives now is critical. Emirates and Qatar Airways have finite capacity, and as Cathay’s suspension extends, seats on competing carriers fill quickly. Fares on the Hong Kong–Dubai route have climbed 18–25% since February 28 as demand concentrates on the remaining operators.
Hong Kong resident John Snelgrove, 72, experienced the disruption firsthand. Stranded in Dubai after attending a conference when the strikes occurred, he and his wife abandoned their March 15 Cathay return booking and rebooked on Emirates with assistance from Hong Kong’s Immigration Department. “We are so pleased to be home,” Snelgrove told the South China Morning Post after arriving March 10. “The Immigration Department was fantastic for liaising with Emirates.”
Cathay promised to refund his unused return ticket under the waiver policy.
What to do if your flight is affected
Check your booking status immediately. Visit Cathay Pacific’s official disruption page or call customer care. The waiver covers all bookings through April 30, allowing free changes or full refunds.
Book alternative carriers now if you must travel. Emirates operates three daily Hong Kong–Dubai services; Qatar Airways serves Doha. Both have availability as of March 12, but seats are filling as Cathay passengers reroute. Expect fares 20–30% higher than pre-conflict pricing.
Document everything for insurance claims. Save all cancellation notices, waiver confirmations, and rebooking receipts. If the conflict extends beyond March 31, you may have grounds for additional relief under credit card travel protection or comprehensive travel insurance policies.
Consider rerouting via Southeast Asia or southern Europe. If Dubai was a transit point for Europe-bound travel, alternative routings via Singapore, Bangkok, or Istanbul may offer more stable options. Cathay’s waiver allows rerouting to different cities without penalty.
Watch: Cathay Pacific’s next schedule update is expected by March 17. If the suspension extends into April, the airline will likely announce by mid-month to give passengers maximum rebooking time.
Questions? Answers.
Does Cathay Pacific’s waiver cover flights I booked through a travel agent or third-party site?
Yes. The waiver applies to all tickets issued for travel between Hong Kong and Dubai or Riyadh through April 30, 2026, regardless of where you purchased them. Contact your travel agent or the third-party booking platform to process the rebooking or refund — they must honor Cathay’s waiver policy without charging their own fees.
Will I get compensation for the cancellation under international passenger rights laws?
No. Military conflict qualifies as an “extraordinary circumstance” under EU261, US DOT regulations, and most international frameworks, which exempts airlines from cash compensation. However, Cathay’s waiver provides full refunds or free rebooking — more generous than the minimum legal requirement in most jurisdictions.
If I rebook to a later date and the suspension extends again, can I change my flight a second time without fees?
Yes, as long as your new booking falls within the April 30 waiver window. If you rebook to March 25 and Cathay extends the suspension again, you can change once more without penalty. The waiver remains active for all affected bookings through April 30, regardless of how many times you modify your itinerary.
Are Cathay Pacific’s codeshare partners also suspending Middle East flights?
Not uniformly. Cathay’s suspension affects only flights operated by Cathay Pacific metal (aircraft). If you booked a codeshare flight operated by a partner airline like Qatar Airways or British Airways, check directly with the operating carrier — their schedules may differ from Cathay’s. The waiver applies to Cathay-operated flights only.
