Multiple global airlines were forced to cancel flights to Hong Kong as Super Typhoon Ragasa, one of the strongest storms of the season, approached the international aviation hub, bringing with it unprecedented winds and heavy rainfall. The storm caused widespread disruption across East Asia, particularly affecting Hong Kong, Taiwan, and parts of southern China.
On September 22, 2025, the Hong Kong Observatory issued a No. 10 typhoon warning, the highest level, signalling extreme danger. Airlines around the world, including Emirates, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Qantas, Air India, Air New Zealand, and Qatar Airways, quickly responded by cancelling numerous flights to and from Hong Kong. Hong Kong’s own flagship carrier, Cathay Pacific, cancelled over 500 flights, while its budget arm HK Express called off 100 flights. All commercial air traffic to and from the city was suspended between 6 p.m. on Tuesday, September 23, and 6 a.m. on Thursday, September 25, effectively grounding the city’s aviation network for almost two full days.
In anticipation of the typhoon’s arrival, approximately 80% of aircraft owned by Hong Kong’s four main airlines were relocated to airports across Japan, China, Cambodia, Europe, and Australia. The majority of Hong Kong’s business jet fleet was also moved out of the territory to avoid damage. These preemptive measures helped mitigate the potential loss of aircraft, but the storm still left a trail of destruction on the ground.
Ragasa, a Category 5 super typhoon, brought winds exceeding 260 km/h (162 mph) as it barreled across the region. In Hong Kong, the storm generated gusts up to 195 km/h (120 mph), causing flooding, structural damage, uprooting over 1,000 trees, and injuring at least 90 people. Schools, offices, and businesses were closed, and public transportation services were severely disrupted. Emergency crews worked tirelessly to clear debris, repair roads, and restore essential services.
Beyond Hong Kong, Ragasa’s impact was felt across East Asia. Taiwan reported at least 14 fatalities, and other areas of southern China experienced extensive flooding and power outages. Meteorologists have described Ragasa as one of the most intense storms to hit the region in recent decades, highlighting the increasing risks posed by climate change to densely populated coastal cities.
By September 25, Hong Kong International Airport had resumed operations. All three runways were back in use, with over 1,000 flights expected to depart and arrive over the following days. Airlines continue to advise travelers to check flight schedules, as disruptions and delays remain likely due to lingering effects on public transport and airport logistics.
While Ragasa has now moved on, its aftermath is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of urban infrastructure and global travel networks to extreme weather events. Hong Kong’s preparedness measures, including early flight cancellations and aircraft relocation, were credited with minimising the storm’s potential economic impact on the aviation sector. Still, experts warn that cities across Asia must continue to invest in storm-resilient infrastructure as typhoons grow stronger and more frequent.
Travelers and businesses alike are now grappling with the disruption, highlighting the critical importance of robust contingency planning in the face of climate-related disasters. The coming days will reveal the full scale of the damage and the long-term challenges for recovery in one of Asia’s busiest and most connected cities.