Cathay Pacific extends Dubai and Riyadh flight suspension

Hong Kong-based carrier Cathay Pacific has extended the suspension of its passenger flights to Dubai and Riyadh until 30 June 2026 as the unresolved Iran war continues to affect regional airspace and drive up fuel costs.

On 11 March the airline first announced that the routes would be cancelled for the remainder of the month, extending the suspension to the end of May on 24 March.

Rising jet fuel prices have also led Cathay Pacific to operate fewer passenger flights from mid-May to the end of June on other routes, affecting around 2% of Cathay Pacific’s total frequencies and 6% of services operated by its low-cost carrier HK Express.

The capacity cuts were announced alongside Cathay Pacific’s March traffic figures, which showed passenger numbers rising 24.5% year-on-year to 2.8 million. Overall capacity increased by 9%, driven by additional flights on alternative routes, including London, Paris and Zurich, in March and April as demand shifted from affected Middle East hubs.

Lavinia Lau, Chief Customer and Commercial Officer at Cathay Pacific, said: “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.

“Cutting back on capacity has always been our last resort, but regrettably we have had to consolidate a small number of passenger flights from mid-May to end-June.”

Lau added that Cathay Pacific plans to operate all scheduled passenger flights beyond June, subject to developments in the Middle East and jet fuel prices in the coming months.

For more information, visit www.cathaypacific.com