Hong Kong hub status under strain as Middle East war hits global aviation
Flight cuts due to rising fuel prices could affect transit traffic in short run, but impact will depend on duration of conflict, experts say
Passenger flight cuts triggered by surging fuel prices could temporarily affect Hong Kong’s status as a regional transit hub, aviation experts say, with the impact depending on how long the Middle East conflict lasts.
Steven Cheung King-lung, chairman of the Hong Kong Professional Airline Pilots Association, said on Monday that the city faced fierce competition not only from Singapore, but also from the wider Greater Bay Area, Japan and South Korea.
“While Hong Kong is no more susceptible [to the impact of the war than its rivals], its competitive edge could be diluted,” he said, noting the city’s post-pandemic recovery had been relatively slow compared with other places in Asia.
Cheung said airlines would be inclined to consolidate under-booked routes although fewer flights could also result in longer layovers for passengers, who might look for other options.
Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways said on Saturday that it would cut about 2 per cent of its flights between May 16 and June 30. The reduction mostly involved regional routes, although a small number of services to Australia, South Asia and South Africa would also be affected.
The carrier’s budget arm, HK Express, will cancel about 6 per cent of flights from May 11 to June 30.