Super Typhoon Ragasa Hits Hong Kong: Flights Grounded, Planes Evacuated Worldwide

Hong Kong is basically on pause as Super Typhoon Ragasa, the world’s strongest storm this year, lashes the city. Airports are ghost towns. Airlines are scrambling. And anyone hoping to fly out? Forget it for now.

About 80 per cent of planes from Hong Kong’s four main carriers were sent abroad or grounded at safer airports in Japan, China, Cambodia, Europe, and even Australia. Cathay Pacific alone cancelled more than 500 flights, from long-haul to regional routes, saying the typhoon would hit operations significantly.

Flights in and out of Hong Kong, one of the busiest airports in the world for both cargo and passengers, have been suspended for 36 hours starting yesterday evening. Typhoon Signal 10, the city’s highest alert, is up, basically telling everyone to stay home and shut everything down.

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Airlines have a few tricks to ride out storms safely:

• Move planes abroad before the storm hits to avoid damage

• Store aircraft in hangars if winds get too strong

• Add extra fuel to weigh planes down or tie down smaller planes

Image credit: bloomngdream | X

Cathay Pacific sent at least 14 jets to Cambodia’s Phnom Penh Techo airport to wait out Ragasa. Hong Kong’s smaller carriers, like Greater Bay Airlines, parked all their planes away from the city. Hong Kong Airlines kept almost all 28 of its aircraft out of Hong Kong too.

This isn’t just about avoiding damage. Airlines also move planes to be ready to resume flights as soon as the storm passes, making it easier to bounce back quickly.

For Filipinos who often fly through Hong Kong on regional routes or connecting trips abroad, this is a reminder to double-check flights, expect delays, and stay updated. Typhoons in this region can disrupt schedules for days.

If you’re planning to transit or travel via Hong Kong soon, check your airline for cancellations or reroutes. Storms like Ragasa don’t just hit the city. They ripple across Asia’s air travel network, affecting flights across Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Staying updated can save a lot of stress and extra costs.

Featured image credit: Reuters