Flights cancelled as typhoon heads towards Hong Kong

23 August 2017

Hundreds of flights to and from Hong Kong International Airport have been cancelled for today due to Typhoon Hato.

The high wind speeds and directions associated with the typhoon are impacting flight operations.

In a statement, Hong Kong International Airport confirmed that flight operations to the airport would definitely be affected today, and passengers are advised to take note of announcements made by airlines. “Passengers should confirm their flight seats before proceeding to the airport,” the airport said, adding that passengers could also check their flight status on the HKIA website.

Hong Kong flag carrier, Cathay Pacific, has already cancelled most of its flights for today. In a statement, the airline confirmed that majority of its flights departing and arriving at HKIA between 06h00 and 17h00 today had been cancelled.

Due to the high volume of calls currently being experienced at the Global Contact Centre for Cathay Pacific, affected passengers are advised to check the airline’s website for the most up-to-date information or to submit a booking change request online. 

“To ensure you receive the latest flight status updates via SMS or email, please review or update the contact details in your booking,” the airline says.

Cathay has issued special ticketing guidelines and has waived rebooking, rerouting and refunding fees for tickets booked on or before August 21 for travel on Cathay Pacific/Cathay Dragon for travel between August 23 and 24. No-show passengers are not eligible for the waiver. For more information on the waivers, click here. 

SAA has also cancelled flights between Johannesburg and Hong Kong due to the bad weather caused by Typhoon Hato.

In a statement, SAA said flight SA286, due to depart Johannesburg on Tuesday, August 22, and flight SA287, due to depart Hong Kong on Wednesday, August 23 had been cancelled.

The rebooking conditions applicable to affected SAA passengers are as follows:

•             Rebook on to another SAA flight for a later date at no extra charge and subject to availability of the same booking class

•             Change of cabin will not be permitted

•             Change of routing will not be permitted

•             This policy is applicable to SAA flights only, issued on SA (083) ticket stock and not on separate tickets of other airlines 

•             Tickets must be re-issued on/before 25 August 2017

•             Travel must commence on/before 29 August 2017