Emirates has canceled flights to Hong Kong due to severe weather conditions caused by Super Typhoon Saola. China issued its highest typhoon warning as the storm approached Hong Kong and the mainland’s southern coast. Saola’s wind speeds exceeded 200 kilometers per hour (125 miles per hour), and it was located about 370 kilometers southeast of Hong Kong, according to the Hong Kong Observatory.
Emirates announced the cancellation of flights scheduled for September 1 and 2 departing from Dubai. The affected flights include EK380 on September 1 and EK381 on September 2, as well as EK384 DXB-HKG and BKK-HKG on September 1, and EK385 HKG-DXB and HKG-BKK on September 1.
Customers connecting to Hong Kong will not be accepted for travel at the point of origin until further notice, according to Emirates. The airline has advised affected customers who booked through travel agents to contact them for alternative travel arrangements.
Cathay Pacific Airways is also expected to suspend flights starting Friday afternoon through Saturday morning due to the typhoon. Hong Kong is preparing for a possible direct hit by Typhoon Saola, which is anticipated to be the most powerful typhoon to affect the city since 2018. The No. 8 storm warning is set to be raised, effectively closing down the city, including its stock market, and schools will be closed. Typhoon Saola earlier passed by the Philippines and Taiwan before approaching Hong Kong.
