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Super Typhoon Ragasa was expected to make landfall in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, causing one of the biggest air traffic disruptions in the region's history. To ensure absolute safety, the special administrative region's authorities and airlines made an unprecedented decision: to suspend all flight operations for 36 hours.
This was the longest closure Hong Kong International Airport had ever faced, far surpassing previous records and highlighting the severity of the storm's threat. More than 700 flights were canceled, directly impacting hundreds of thousands of passengers and the global aviation industry.
Hong Kong cancels over 700 flights due to Super Typhoon Ragasa.
Following the Hong Kong Observatory's forecast of a typhoon with sustained winds reaching 230 km/h, equivalent to a Category 4 storm on the international scale, aviation authorities and airlines took decisive action. The Hong Kong Airport Authority (AA) implemented a full-scale response plan, banning all flights for 36 consecutive hours, from 6 PM on September 23rd to 6 AM on September 25th. This decision was made after considering the "serious" threat posed by Super Typhoon Ragasa, surpassing even previous strong typhoons such as Saola (20-hour closure) and Wipha (13 hours).
Qantas Airways previously announced that Hong Kong International Airport would be closed from 8 PM on September 23rd to 8 AM on September 25th.
The temporary closure of Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) – one of the world's busiest aviation hubs with an average of 1,100 flights and 190,000 passengers daily – has caused unprecedented disruption. Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong's largest airline and accounting for nearly half of all flights there, announced the cancellation of more than 500 flights. Meanwhile, other airlines such as Qantas Airways also confirmed a total of more than 700 affected flights. To minimize losses, airlines adjusted long-haul flight schedules and offered free ticket changes to passengers, while moving unused aircraft to safer areas to avoid damage from strong winds and debris.
A spokesperson for the Hong Kong Airport Authority said they are closely monitoring the developments of Super Typhoon Ragasa and have begun preparations for its response.
The danger posed by Super Typhoon Ragasa extends beyond aviation. Authorities in Hong Kong and Macau issued emergency warnings to residents about the risk of strong winds and significant storm surges. Schools across the special administrative regions were ordered closed for two days, September 23rd and 24th. Public hospitals implemented special measures to ensure uninterrupted emergency services, while Macau police urged residents in low-lying areas to be prepared for evacuation if necessary.
The agency is considering the most extreme option: banning all flights for 36 hours starting at 6 PM on September 23rd, due to the "serious threat" posed by Super Typhoon Ragasa.
Hong Kong residents reacted proactively by rushing to supermarkets and markets to stock up on essential supplies from the morning of September 22nd. The shopping frenzy was so intense that the price of vegetables in traditional markets tripled compared to normal days, reflecting the community's anxiety and preparation for what was predicted to be a catastrophic storm. The Hong Kong government responded by distributing twice the usual amount of sandbags in flood-prone areas, demonstrating its seriousness in disaster prevention efforts.
The temporary suspension of HKIA's operations is expected to have a significant impact on the regional aviation industry, as the airport handles an average of 1,100 flights and 190,000 passengers daily. Cathay Pacific, which accounts for nearly half of all flights at the airport, will be most severely affected.
Before approaching Hong Kong, Super Typhoon Ragasa caused extensive damage in the Philippines and Taiwan, forcing thousands to evacuate and closing many schools and offices. The China National Meteorological Center also warned of an impending "catastrophic disaster," and planned to evacuate 400,000 people in Shenzhen, Guangdong province.
The fact that the super typhoon made landfall in Hong Kong and then southern China on September 23-24, and is predicted to become typhoon number 9 in Vietnam, demonstrates its wide-ranging impact and dangerous nature for the entire region. Coordination between aviation authorities, local governments, and the public is crucial to minimizing loss of life and property. The decision to close Hong Kong airport for a record period shows the highest priority given to safety and serves as a valuable lesson for other regions in responding to climate change.
