Cathay Pacific’s Dubai and Riyadh flights to return from September

Cathay Pacific’s Dubai and Riyadh flights will resume this autumn, with the airline confirming a phased return to the Middle East after grounding the routes since February.

Freighter flights to Riyadh return first, resuming 1 August. Passenger services follow a month later. From 1 September, Cathay will fly daily to Dubai and four times a week to Riyadh, with tickets already on sale. The carrier said it would keep monitoring conditions in the region before those dates arrive.

[See more: Rules for mainland Chinese settling in Hong Kong and Macao have been updated]

The suspension of Cathay Pacific’s Dubai and Riyadh flights dates back to 28 February, when Cathay grounded all Middle East passenger and cargo service after the outbreak of the US and Israeli war on Iran. Cathay extended the pause repeatedly over the following months.

Officials approve resumption of Cathay Pacific’s Dubai and Riyadh flights

Hong Kong’s Transport and Logistics Bureau posted its approval of the move, pointing out that Cathay is the only carrier flying the Hong Kong to Riyadh route. Transport chief Mable Chan said the resumption broadened the local airport’s network and strengthened Hong Kong’s position as an aviation hub.

A round-trip economy ticket to Dubai in September currently runs as high as HK$8,853, of which HK$2,524 is carrier surcharges, based on a check of Cathay’s booking site.