emirates7 - Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) will suspend all passenger flights for 36 hours as the city braces for the arrival of Super Typhoon Ragasa. The shutdown will begin at 8 p.m. on September 23 and last until 8 a.m. on September 25, according to Qantas Airways, which notified its affected customers. The move highlights the serious threat posed by the storm to the densely populated financial center.
This marks the longest closure in HKIA’s recent history, exceeding the 20-hour suspension during Typhoon Saola and the 13-hour closure during Typhoon Wipha.
The Hong Kong Observatory has categorized Ragasa as a super typhoon, with sustained winds reaching 143 miles (230 kilometers) per hour near its eye — equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane. The storm has already caused major disruptions in the Philippines and Taiwan, where mass evacuations have taken place and schools and offices were shut down.
The impact on travel will be significant, as HKIA typically handles around 1,100 flights and 190,000 passengers per day. Cathay Pacific Airways, which operates nearly half of the airport’s traffic, is expected to be among the hardest hit.
Airport Authority Hong Kong said it is “closely tracking the situation” and has rolled out comprehensive safety measures. These include securing aircraft parking areas, safeguarding flight operations, and supporting passengers and staff.
Authorities in both Hong Kong and Macao have issued warnings in anticipation of the storm’s destructive winds and possible storm surge.
Residents are being urged to prepare, with many already stocking up on essentials. The Hong Kong government has distributed more than twice the usual supply of sandbags to flood-prone districts, while Macao police have advised residents in vulnerable coastal zones to get ready for potential evacuation.
This marks the longest closure in HKIA’s recent history, exceeding the 20-hour suspension during Typhoon Saola and the 13-hour closure during Typhoon Wipha.
The Hong Kong Observatory has categorized Ragasa as a super typhoon, with sustained winds reaching 143 miles (230 kilometers) per hour near its eye — equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane. The storm has already caused major disruptions in the Philippines and Taiwan, where mass evacuations have taken place and schools and offices were shut down.
The impact on travel will be significant, as HKIA typically handles around 1,100 flights and 190,000 passengers per day. Cathay Pacific Airways, which operates nearly half of the airport’s traffic, is expected to be among the hardest hit.
Airport Authority Hong Kong said it is “closely tracking the situation” and has rolled out comprehensive safety measures. These include securing aircraft parking areas, safeguarding flight operations, and supporting passengers and staff.
Authorities in both Hong Kong and Macao have issued warnings in anticipation of the storm’s destructive winds and possible storm surge.
Residents are being urged to prepare, with many already stocking up on essentials. The Hong Kong government has distributed more than twice the usual supply of sandbags to flood-prone districts, while Macao police have advised residents in vulnerable coastal zones to get ready for potential evacuation.