Hong Kong flights resume after 36-hour Typhoon Ragasa shutdown: 140,000 passengers affected
September 25, 2025
Flights resumed at Hong Kong International Airport on Thursday (25 September) after a 36-hour shutdown caused by Super Typhoon Ragasa. The storm brought the city to a standstill, closing businesses, schools and transport links.
Hong Kong flights resume amid backlog: Over 140,000 passengers affected
The Airport Authority reopened the airport on Thursday morning, resuming outbound services from 06:00 (10:00 GMT), after keeping all operations suspended for the preceding two days.
During the closure, approximately 140,000 passengers were affected, as all flights were grounded between Tuesday evening and early Thursday. Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong’s international airline, took the precaution of moving many of its aircraft away from the city state to protect them during the storm.
Aviation geek:
— Special Taiwan (@TaiwanSpecial) September 24, 2025
Cathay Pacific Airlines relocating its planes out of Hong Kong ahead of super typhoon Ragasa
Maybe after seeing the devastation Ragasa wreaked in Taiwan the CX bosses thought “Better be safe than sorry!”#Aviation #cathaypacific #TyphoonRagasa #typhoons… pic.twitter.com/UEdLFpJAbe
Officials warned that the recovery would be gradual, anticipating it would take about two days to clear the backlog and restore normal schedule levels. The airport expects to handle about 1,000 flights on the first full day back in operation.
Cathay acknowledged that weather conditions from the receding typhoon still pose risks: “We are committed to returning our schedule to normal as quickly as possible… air traffic control restrictions will remain in place all day … further short-notice changes to our schedule may be necessary.”
The carrier urged travellers to come to the airport only if they have confirmed bookings, to check in online beforehand, and to monitor flight status updates via email, SMS or its mobile app.
Hong Kong airport under tight control
The Airport Authority announced that all three runways would be operational from Thursday, with air traffic control restrictions in place to manage incoming and outgoing traffic safely. Some flights may still arrive after midnight, but full resumption was targeted for 06:00.
As #TyphoonRagasa moved away, Hong Kong International Airport gradually resumed normal operations from 6 am on Thursday and is expected to handle about 1,000 flights throughout the day. (Adam Lam/China Daily) pic.twitter.com/R117F6dvnX
— China Daily Asia (@ChinaDailyAsia) September 25, 2025
Chris Au Young, the authority’s general manager of terminal and passenger experience, said safety concerns had prevented airlines from restarting flights before midnight.
Staff provided stranded passengers with basic supplies, including food, water, and towels, as well as informal comforts like marshmallows and popcorn. Children were given drawing materials to pass the time.
Typhoon Ragasa: The storm that brought Hong Kong to a halt
Typhoon Ragasa, described as the world’s most powerful tropical cyclone this year, lashed Hong Kong from Tuesday onwards, prompting the Observatory to hoist its T10 warning, the city’s highest storm signal. More than 100 people were injured in Hong Kong amid widespread disruptions.
Before reaching Hong Kong, Ragasa moved across the northern Philippines and Taiwan, causing deaths and damage, then made landfall in southern China near Yangjiang.
🚨BREAKING UPDATE🚨
— OVN (@ovn_news) September 25, 2025
⚠️Hong Kong Opens Doors After Ragasa
After a historic 36-hour halt for Super Typhoon Ragasa, Hong Kong is back—flights, businesses, and most schools are reopening. Recovery moves fast, with airport handling 1,000+ flights today. Battered but operational.… pic.twitter.com/erSQlZU0a0
All four Hong Kong-based carriers – Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong Airlines, HK Express and Greater Bay Airlines – offered free rescheduling for affected passengers.
Cathay cancelled over 500 flights, while Hong Kong Airlines cancelled 104 flights. The airline confirmed its first flight after the resumption would arrive from Vancouver at 6 a.m.
The airport authority expects a gradual, phased ramp-up of services into Friday and beyond, while airlines assess and manage ripple effects such as crew availability, aircraft positioning and downstream connections.
