Summary
- Cathay Pacific has temporarily suspended all flights between Hong Kong and Tel Aviv until December 31 on account of the continued situation in Israel. Customers are advised to alter their flights and might achieve this with no rebooking fee.
- The airline has faced challenges in recent times, including route cuts and political unrest in Hong Kong. Nevertheless, there are signs of recovery, with a big increase in passengers and a growth in cargo operations.
- The temporary suspension can have impacted travel plans for some, however the airline is offering full refunds and limited rebooking options.
The flag carrier of Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific, has temporarily suspended all flights between it’s hub in Hong Kong and Tel Aviv on account of the continued situation within the region. The airline has blocked all services until the tip of the 12 months. The news got here because the airline seems to finally show signs of stronger recovery after a difficult few years. The airline is keen to spice up its international passenger and cargo network.
Temporary suspension of services to Tel Aviv
On October 22, Cathay Pacific announced that it’s temporarily suspending all services between Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) and Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) until December 31. The airline cites the explanation behind this decision as the continued situation in Israel.
The airline is requesting booked customers to ascertain their messages and alter their flights to avoid any inconvenience. The airline is allowing customers who’ve booked flights between the 2 cities until March 31, 2024, to alter their flights without the rebooking fee. Passengers who’re halfway into their journey are also requested to search out other booking options.
Photo: Rayman Cheuk Wai-man / Shutterstock
The airline stated within the announcement,
“Customers who’ve already begun their journey and haven’t received a message from Cathay Pacific are advised to ascertain the present status of their booking via Manage Booking.”
The airline can be offering full refunds to customers who’re booked but haven’t begun their journeys between the 2 cities. In response to the airline,
“In the mean time we will only offer customers very limited rebooking options. Customers who haven’t yet began their journeys are strongly advised to just accept the offer of a full refund for his or her booking. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused to our customers and we appreciate their understanding.”
A ray of hope for recovery
The airline has seen a really difficult time in the previous couple of years. Other than the worldwide pandemic which saw the airline cut dozens of major routes on its network, the was severely impacted by the political situation in Hong Kong. Even before the beginning of the pandemic, the airline needed to opt-out from major markets on account of political unrest within the country.
Photo: Jake Hardiman | Easy Flying
After a number of years of struggle, the airline has shown some signs of recovery with its August 2023 performance results. Through the first eight months of the 12 months, the airline carried over ten million passengers, up over 600% in comparison with the identical period last 12 months. The month of August was particularly positive for the airline, with a staggering 1.78 million passengers carried.
The airline also saw a serious milestone in cargo operations, which increased by 11.5% by way of cargo tonnage. The airline is aiming for further positive growth in express cargo shipments. The worldwide increase in e-commerce has helped the airline regain a few of its cargo market share.
What are your thoughts on temporarily suspending Cathay Pacific flights between Hong Kong and Tel Aviv? Did the announcement disrupt your travel plans or someone you recognize? Tell us within the comments section.