Middle East conflict hits global aviation, Hong Kong routes unaffected
Almost 5 per cent of international flights to the Middle East have been cancelled this month due to the escalating Israel-Iran conflict, which has made the region more unstable after the US bombarded key Iranian nuclear sites and Tehran vowed to defend itself.
According to data from aviation analytics company Cirium, 1,552 out of 32,583, or 4.76 per cent of scheduled flights to Dubai, Tel Aviv, Doha, and Abu Dhabi worldwide were cancelled this month.
There had been no cancellations of flights between Hong Kong and the Middle East in June, according to Cirium spokesman Mike Arnot. He noted that aircraft from the city typically flew over Myanmar and India, avoiding the conflict zones.
He said there was currently a twice-daily service by Emirates between Dubai and Hong Kong, while Qatar Airways had a similar schedule between the city and Doha. Cathay Pacific continues to fly to Dubai and Riyadh.
This month, 164 flights were scheduled from Hong Kong to Doha, Dubai, and Riyadh, according to data from Cirium. Cathay Pacific accounted for 44 of these flights to Dubai and Riyadh, while Emirates and Qatar Airways each operated 60 flights to Dubai and Doha, respectively.
Emirates are still operating a twice-daily service between Hong Kong and Dubai. Photo: Adam Schreck/AP
Global airlines were reassessing their flight schedules following US strikes on three key Iranian nuclear facilities last Saturday, which marked a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict.
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