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Super Typhoon Saola: hundreds of travellers stranded at Hong Kong airport after carriers cancel 460 flights

  • Hong Kong Airport Authority says staff have been providing water and snacks to about 300 passengers stuck at its terminals
  • Cathay Pacific targets resuming flights at midday on Saturday, while Hong Kong Airlines says normal operations may return by Sunday

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Travellers queue as they wait for news on their flights. Photo: Ambrose Li
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Hundreds of passengers were left stranded at the Hong Kong International Airport on Friday after about 460 flights were cancelled amid the approach of Super Typhoon Saola.

Cathay Pacific Airways, the city’s flag carrier, said it was aiming to resume flights at midday on Saturday, with staff to remain at the airport until that time. Hong Kong Airlines expects operations to return to normal by Sunday.

“When the weather conditions permit tomorrow, we will resume our flight operations step by step in an orderly fashion,” said Wing Yeung Tat-wing, general manager for terminal operations at the Airport Authority.

The Observatory issued a No 9 signal at 6.20pm on Friday as Saola continued to draw near. Photo: Jonathan Wong
The Observatory issued a No 9 signal at 6.20pm on Friday as Saola continued to draw near. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Yeung said both the emergency response centre at the airport and airlines were drafting plans to resume flights.

The Observatory issued a No 10 signal at 8.15pm on Friday as Saola continued to encroach upon the city.

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