Cathay Just Pushed Dubai and Riyadh All the Way Into 2027

Anyone hoping to fly Hong Kong’s flag carrier to the Gulf this winter will have to wait longer. Cathay Pacific said on Monday that passenger flights to Dubai and Riyadh will remain suspended until January 31, 2027. The routes had been due to restart after November 30, so the new announcement adds roughly two more months to the pause. Cathay attributed the decision to the latest developments in the Middle East.

This is the third time the airline has delayed or extended its return to the region since the conflict broke out. Each extension has been announced with only weeks to spare, which makes it difficult for travelers to plan holiday trips around the original restart dates. The carrier said it will keep monitoring the situation before setting a firm date to resume, and it is separately reviewing when freighter services to the two cities might return.

For passengers already holding tickets, Cathay is offering flexible arrangements: rebooking to later dates, rerouting through another carrier or hub, or a refund. Anyone with a December or January trip should contact the airline or their travel agent early, because the most convenient alternative connections through other Gulf and Asian hubs tend to fill quickly during the peak year-end season. Travelers who booked through a third-party site or as part of a package should go through that agent, since changes usually have to be made by whoever issued the ticket.

Cathay is not the only airline treating the region cautiously this year, as the conflict and a sharp rise in jet fuel prices have both weighed on long-haul schedules. Travelers heading from Hong Kong to Dubai or Riyadh may still find options on other airlines or via connecting hubs, but fares and routings may look quite different from those of a year ago. Check government travel advisories alongside airline notices before committing to plans, and keep an eye on Cathay’s travel alerts page for further changes.

Sources: Hong Kong Free Press, The Standard (Hong Kong)