Hong Kong — Hong Kong International Airport is set to suspend all passenger flights for 36 hours, a decision that would mark the longest grounding in its recent history, as Super Typhoon Ragasa bears down on the city. The move comes as the Asian financial hub braces for one of its most powerful storms in years.
A formal announcement is expected imminently, but Cathay Pacific, the city’s largest carrier, has already confirmed that it expects to cancel more than 500 flights. Cathay Pacific’s flights arriving at and departing from Hong Kong International Airport will cease operations starting at 6:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday, September 23, and are not expected to resume until daytime on Thursday. Qantas Airways has also updated its website to reflect the closure, stating the airport will be closed from 8:00 p.m. on September 23 to 8:00 a.m. on September 25.
The Hong Kong Observatory has already issued a precautionary signal for the storm and is expected to upgrade it to the second-highest level later today. The city is bracing for gale-force to storm-force winds, with the possibility of hurricane-force gusts offshore and on high ground. The storm’s trajectory puts its closest approach to Hong Kong on Wednesday morning, raising fears of widespread flooding and disruption.
The Airport Authority Hong Kong stated that it is “closely monitoring developments” and has “commenced preparations for the typhoon.” The decision to shut down the airport is a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of passengers, staff, and airport infrastructure and to avoid a repeat of past incidents where travelers were stranded. All schools in Hong Kong will also be suspended on Tuesday and Wednesday.