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Leopold Chen

Eager travellers, undeterred by an announcement that outbound flights would not resume until 6am on Thursday, headed to Hong Kong International Airport as Severe Typhoon Ragasa moved away from the city.
With all flights suspended until midnight, the Airport Authority said it expected the airport would be very busy. It anticipated later handling about 1,000 flights.
It would take about two days to clear the backlog of flights, as 140,000 passengers were affected on Tuesday and Wednesday, the authority said.
One of those affected was a Singaporean woman surnamed Lim.
When Airport Express services resumed at 5.10pm on Wednesday, she boarded the first train at Hong Kong station to the airport in hopes of rebooking a cancelled Cathay Pacific Airways flight scheduled for September 28.
She had earlier tried to secure a flight for Thursday, but the carrier did not respond to her phone calls or emails.
She said she was left with no choice but to try her luck at the airline’s airport counter.
“Speechless,” the 51-year-old said of Cathay’s service. “For the first time in my entire life, I have to sleep at the airport.”
Cathay had earlier advised people not to call its customer service hotline due to a large number of inquiries and said it would inform individual passengers about changes to their flights.
The airline is arranging for aircraft parked outside Hong Kong to return to the city.
The authority urged passengers not to go to the airport before confirming their flights with airlines.

Sophia Crowley, a 28-year-old finance worker from New York, took the first Airport Express train to the airport to check in to a nearby hotel for her flight the following day.
Her original flight was scheduled for 9am on Thursday but was cancelled, prompting her to rebook another at 2pm. However, she remained somewhat worried that her flight would be affected.
“I am trying to get closer to the airport so that I can choose whatever flights are available,” she said.
Crowley, who would be flying with Cathay, said she had not received an update on her flight from the carrier and hoped she “could know more” with more regular updates.
The authority said that operations could not resume immediately after the No 8 warning signal was expected to be downgraded at 8pm, as strong winds and crosswinds were expected to continue affecting flights.
Although departing flights were not due to resume until Thursday, more than 20 flights were scheduled to arrive in Hong Kong between midnight and 6am.
More than 700 flights were cancelled in the past two days.
Hong Kong Airlines said it cancelled 104 flights due to Ragasa but expected 70 would resume from 6am on Thursday.
Greater Bay Airlines, which cancelled all flights on Wednesday, said it expected to resume operations a day later with some adjustments to schedules.
Cathay’s budget carrier, HK Express, said 13 flights would arrive in Hong Kong between midnight and 6am on Thursday.


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Super Typhoon Ragasa

Hong Kong airport braces for Ragasa backlog of 140,000 affected passengers

The Airport Authority are bracing for a frantic period with flights set to resume between midnight and 6am on Thursday. Photo: Sun Yeung

A total of 140,000 passengers have been affected by disruptions as a result of Ragasa. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Many stranded at Hong Kong airport after last flight departs at 6pm

Passengers in the departure hall of Hong Kong International Airport on Tuesday. Many flights have been cancelled due to the approaching Super Typhoon Ragasa. Photo: Sun Yeung

A few domestic helpers await updates on their flights at the departure hall of Hong Kong International Airport. Photo: Sun Yeung

Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific warns of ‘significant’ impact on operations from Ragasa

Cathay Pacific says it has moved some aircraft away from Hong Kong, without specifying the locations. Photo: Dickson Lee

Passengers rush to rearrange flights at Hong Kong airport as Ragasa approaches

Passengers queue at airline counters at Hong Kong International Airport. Photo: Dickson Lee

At least 700 flights are set to be cancelled, causing major disruptions for passengers. Photo: Dickson Lee

News

Hong Kong

Transport

Airport Authority warns of two-day backlog ahead of operations resuming between midnight and 6am on Thursday


Airport Authority warns of two-day backlog ahead of operations resuming between midnight and 6am on Thursday.
