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Super Typhoon Ragasa is expected to make landfall in Hong Kong, causing one of the largest aviation disruptions in the region's history. To ensure absolute safety, the Hong Kong government and airlines have made an unprecedented decision: suspending all flight operations for 36 hours.
This is the longest closure ever faced by Hong Kong International Airport, far surpassing previous records, showing the severity of the threat posed by the storm. More than 700 flights were cancelled, directly affecting hundreds of thousands of passengers and the global aviation industry.
Hong Kong cancels more than 700 flights due to super typhoon Ragasa
With the Hong Kong Observatory predicting a typhoon with sustained winds of up to 230 km/h, equivalent to a Category 4 storm on the international scale, aviation authorities and airlines have taken drastic action. Hong Kong Airport Authority (AA) has issued its highest level of response scenario, planning to ban all flights for 36 consecutive hours, starting from 6pm on September 23 to 6am on September 25. This decision was made after considering the "severe" threat posed by Ragasa, surpassing previous strong storms such as Saola (closed for 20 hours) and Wipha (13 hours).
Qantas Airways previously announced that Hong Kong International Airport would be closed from 8pm on September 23 to 8am on September 25.
The suspension 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 a day - has caused unprecedented disruption. Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong's largest airline and accounting for nearly half of all flights there, announced more than 500 flight cancellations, while other airlines such as Qantas Airways also confirmed a total of more than 700 flights were affected. To mitigate the damage, airlines have adjusted long-haul flight schedules and waived ticket change fees for passengers, while moving unoccupied planes to safer areas to avoid damage from high winds and debris.
A spokesman for the Hong Kong Airport Authority said it is closely monitoring the developments of super typhoon Ragasa and has begun preparations for response.
The threat posed by Ragasa extends beyond aviation. Hong Kong and Macau authorities have issued emergency warnings to residents of the risk of strong winds and significant storm surges. Schools across the region have been ordered to close on September 23 and 24. Public hospitals have also taken special measures to ensure uninterrupted emergency services, while Macau police have urged residents in low-lying areas to be ready to evacuate if necessary.
The agency is considering the most extreme option of banning all flights for 36 hours from 6pm on September 23, due to the "serious threat" from super typhoon Ragasa.
Hong Kong residents responded proactively by rushing to supermarkets and markets to stock up on essentials from the morning of September 22. The shopping scene became so bustling that vegetables in traditional markets tripled in price compared to normal days, showing the community’s anxiety and preparedness for what was expected to be a catastrophic storm. The Hong Kong government responded by distributing twice the usual amount of sandbags in flood-prone areas, showing the seriousness of its disaster prevention work.
The suspension of HKIA operations is expected to have a major impact on the regional aviation industry, as the airport handles an average of 1,100 flights and 190,000 passengers a day. Cathay Pacific, which accounts for nearly half of all flights there, will be the hardest hit.
Before approaching Hong Kong, Ragasa caused severe damage in the Philippines and Taiwan, forcing thousands to evacuate and closing many schools and offices. China's National Meteorological Center also warned of an impending "catastrophic natural disaster," planning to evacuate 400,000 people in Shenzhen, Guangdong province.
The super typhoon’s landfall in Hong Kong and then southern China on 23-24 September, and its forecast to become the ninth typhoon in Vietnam, shows the wide range of its impact and the level of danger it poses to the entire region. Coordination between aviation authorities, local authorities and the public is key to minimizing loss of life and property. The decision to close Hong Kong’s airport for a record period shows the highest priority given to safety and is a valuable lesson for other regions in responding to climate change.
