Cathay Pacific cancels arriving flights due to typhoon Utor (16:30 HKT)
Cathay Pacific Airways today announced that a number of its flights scheduled to arrive at Hong Kong International Airport after 8:00pm Hong Kong time tonight will be cancelled or deferred due to the approach of Typhoon Utor. It is expected that up to 20 incoming flights will be cancelled or deferred.
In addition, a number of long-haul flights already airborne are scheduled to arrive in Hong Kong after 8:00pm tonight. Some of these flights may also need to be diverted to alternate airports in the region.
Passengers booked on the cancelled or deferred incoming flights will be transferred to the next available flight.
Departing flights from Hong Kong after 8:30pm may also experience significant delays due to the approach of the typhoon.
Cathay Pacific will suspend its in-town check-in service at Hong Kong Station and Kowloon Station of the Airport Express Line for flights with scheduled departure times after 8:30pm.
As the situation remains dynamic, the airline will continue to provide updated information through its Website and its passenger hotlines listed below.
Cathay Pacific's General Manager Operations Captain Jeff Turner said: "We have taken the decision to cancel flights in advance due to the likelihood of very high winds and heavy rainbands associated with Typhoon Utor. These are likely to disrupt airline operations in the region. We apologise to our passengers for the inconvenience this will cause. We will do all we can to ensure passengers get to their destinations as soon as possible."
Cathay Pacific recommends passengers booked on this evening's flights call the following passenger enquiry hotlines before going to the airport. The following hotlines will remain open until 11:00pm tonight:
English-language hotline: 2747 8999
Updated flight information is always available on www.cathaypacific.com.
