Cathay Pacific, HK Express to cut May-June flights as Mideast war pushes up fuel prices

Hong Kong-based carriers Cathay Pacific and HK Express have said they will reduce flights from mid-May to the end of June, citing “huge cost pressure” due to surging fuel prices amid the Middle East conflict.

Aircraft parked near the Cathay Pacific building. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

Around 2 per cent of Cathay Pacific flights will be cancelled between May 16 and June 30 “to mitigate part of the increased costs,” according to a statement issued by the aviation giant on Saturday.

The cancellations will mostly affect regional flights, as well as a small number of routes to Australia, South Asia and South Africa. 

HK Express, Cathay Pacific’s budget subsidiary, will axe around 6 per cent of flights from May 11 to June 30.

The decision to reduce capacity is due to surging jet fuel prices amid the Middle East crisis, Cathay said.

“In the past month, we have pursued every suitable means to keep our flights operating as normal. This includes adjusting the fuel surcharges in an attempt to mitigate the surge in jet fuel prices,” it said.

“Despite our best efforts, the measures we have taken to mitigate the heightened fuel costs have not been enough… Cutting back on capacity has always been our last resort.”

HK Express planes at the Hong Kong International Airport. Photo: GovHK.

All affected passengers will be offered alternative flights within 24 hours of their original departure times.

Cathay raised fuel surcharges on all flights by 34 per cent on April 1, two weeks after doubling the fees. HK Express also hiked fuel surcharges on most flights, except to and from mainland China.

It also said it would extend the suspension of Dubai and Riyadh flights until at least June 30 due to “the ongoing situation in the Middle East.”  

The outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East, sparked by Israeli-US attacks on Iran on February 28, has significantly impacted global oil prices.

Citing data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Cathay said the global average jet fuel price had doubled, from US$99.40 per barrel for the week ending February 27 to US$209 per barrel for the week ending April 3.