Cathay Pacific Airways announced on Saturday that it will reduce some of its flight operations from mid-May through the end of June, attributing the decision to soaring jet fuel prices driven by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The airline plans to cancel approximately 2% of its scheduled passenger flights between May 16 and June 30, 2026. Meanwhile, its low-cost subsidiary, HK Express, will reduce its flights by about 6% starting May 11.
Notably, Cathay Pacific will maintain the suspension of its passenger services to Dubai and Riyadh until June 30. This move comes despite the airline’s earlier commitment to expand passenger capacity by 10% this year, as stated last month by CEO Ronald Lam. The expansion was aimed at meeting strong demand for long-haul routes to North America, Europe, and Australia, especially after the Iran conflict disrupted traffic through the Middle East.
Looking beyond June, both Cathay Pacific and HK Express intend to resume full operation of their scheduled passenger flights. However, industry executives have expressed skepticism about a swift recovery in the aviation sector, even with a recent two-week ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump with Iran. They caution that jet fuel supplies are expected to remain limited and expensive for several months, regardless of whether Iran reopens the Strait of Hormuz.
Cathay Pacific Airways Limited serves as Hong Kong’s flag carrier, with its headquarters and main hub located at Hong Kong International Airport. The airline and its subsidiaries operate scheduled passenger and cargo services to over 190 destinations across more than 60 countries, including numerous codeshare agreements and joint ventures.
