Typhoon Ragasa Grounds Hong Kong Flights Airlines Move Aircraft Abroad

Post by : Meena Rani

Hong Kong, September 24, 2025 – Typhoon Ragasa, the world’s most powerful tropical cyclone this year, has caused widespread flight cancellations and operational disruptions at Hong Kong International Airport, one of the globe’s busiest aviation hubs.

Ahead of the storm, which brought hurricane-force winds and torrential rain, airlines relocated approximately 80% of their aircraft to airports in Japan, China, Cambodia, Europe, Australia, and other locations, according to Flightradar24 tracking data.

Cargo and Passenger Operations Halted

All landings and departures at Hong Kong, the world’s busiest cargo airport and the ninth busiest for international passenger traffic, were suspended for 36 hours starting Tuesday evening, September 23.

Cathay Pacific Airways, Hong Kong’s largest carrier with a fleet of 179 passenger and freighter planes, warned on Monday, September 22, that the typhoon would significantly impact operations, leading to the cancellation of more than 500 long-haul and regional flights.

"We are positioning some of our aircraft away from Hong Kong and expect a staggered and gradual resumption to our schedule throughout Thursday into Friday (September 25-26)," the airline stated.

Business Jets and Smaller Carriers Also Take Precautions

The Hong Kong Business Aviation Center confirmed that most of the territory’s business jet fleet moved out ahead of the storm. Smaller airlines also took safety measures:

• Greater Bay Airlines, which operates seven aircraft, relocated all planes to airports in Japan and China.

• Hong Kong Airlines kept all but one of its 28 aircraft outside Hong Kong.

• Cathay Pacific and its low-cost subsidiary H.K. Express retained a larger portion of their fleet locally, though details on storage practices were not disclosed.

Industry Practices for Storm Preparedness

Airlines routinely move aircraft abroad during severe weather events or geopolitical risks to prevent damage and comply with insurance requirements. Options for safeguarding planes include storing them in hangars, adding extra fuel to increase weight, or tying down smaller aircraft.

In some cases, planes are preemptively flown to alternate airports to ensure they are ready for return operations once conditions improve. For instance, at least 14 Cathay Pacific jets flew to Cambodia’s Phnom Penh Techo Airport on September 23 to wait out Typhoon Ragasa.

Hong Kong Issues Highest Typhoon Warning

Early Wednesday, Hong Kong issued Typhoon Signal 10, the highest warning level, prompting businesses and transport services to shut down.

As airlines and authorities monitor the situation, flight schedules are expected to resume gradually from September 25, with operations likely returning to normal by Friday.

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