Cathay Pacific has extended its suspension of passenger services between Hong Kong and Dubai through 31 January 2027, marking the third time the carrier has pushed back its planned UAE return since the regional disruptions began earlier this year.
What Has Changed
Cathay had previously targeted late October 2026 as its resumption date. The airline has now moved that back to at least the end of January 2027, citing continued airspace uncertainty across the Gulf region. The suspension covers both the Hong Kong-Dubai and Hong Kong-Riyadh passenger routes, though Cathay Cargo freighter operations remain under separate review.
The extension makes Cathay one of the longest-standing non-returnees to Dubai among major carriers. Air Canada also remains suspended through January 2027, while Singapore Airlines’ Dubai services were previously extended to late October 2026 - its current status should be confirmed directly with the airline.
Who Is Affected
Passengers holding Cathay Pacific bookings to Dubai or Abu Dhabi (via Dubai connections) for travel before 1 February 2027 should expect their itineraries to be cancelled. Cathay typically contacts affected passengers directly, but it is worth checking your booking status proactively if you have flights in this window.
Travellers connecting from Hong Kong or using Cathay for onward legs into the UAE will need to rebook on an alternative carrier. Options on the Hong Kong-Dubai corridor include Emirates, which operates a daily service from Hong Kong to Dubai, and flydubai for some connection routings.
Context: The Broader Picture
Not all international carriers remain off the UAE. Several European airlines restored Dubai services during October - Lufthansa resumed Munich and Frankfurt flights from 25 October, and Wizz Air returned from Budapest and Bucharest on the same date. Emirates itself has rebuilt roughly 85 per cent of its pre-disruption capacity.
The pattern emerging is a split between short-haul and medium-haul carriers - many of which have returned - and long-haul carriers from Asia and North America, where regulatory thresholds and risk assessments are more conservative. Cathay and Air Canada’s continued absence reflects that divide rather than any specific concern about UAE airports themselves, which are operating normally.
For travellers not reliant on Cathay, the UAE is very much open. Dubai International Airport and Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International are both operating without general disruption, and the winter high season is now underway.
What to Do If You Have a Booking
- Check the status of your booking directly with Cathay Pacific’s service desk
- If rebooking, Emirates and Etihad have the most frequent direct service from Asian hub cities to Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively
- Review your travel insurance policy - disruption-caused rebooking costs are typically claimable under a standard policy; see our UAE travel insurance guide for what to look for
- For the latest on which airlines are flying to Dubai, see our flights to Dubai guide
- If your flight was disrupted from an EU airport on an EU carrier, you may be entitled to compensation; our flight delay compensation guide explains the rules
We will update this article when Cathay Pacific announces a revised return date.