Dubai: Emirates cancels multiple flights as super typhoon Ragasa nears Southern China

Emirates cancelled 11 Dubai flights to Hong Kong and Shenzhen from September 23 to 25/Image: Emirates

As Super Typhoon Ragasa approaches southern China, Emirates has announced widespread flight cancellations to Hong Kong and Shenzhen between September 23 and 25. The Dubai-based airline is suspending all services to the affected cities and restricting connections for passengers travelling through Dubai. Authorities in Hong Kong have taken emergency steps, including a 36-hour airport shutdown, as the region braces for one of the most powerful typhoons in recent years.

Emirates announced on Monday, September 22, the cancellation of 11 scheduled flights between Dubai and Hong Kong as well as Shenzhen, in anticipation of Super Typhoon Ragasa making landfall on September 23 and 24.The affected Emirates flights are:

Additionally, Emirates has suspended its shuttle service between Hong Kong and Bangkok on both September 23 and 24.The airline has also stated that passengers travelling through Dubai with final destinations in Hong Kong or Shenzhen will not be accepted for travel at their origin point until further notice. This includes passengers booked on connecting flights from other Emirates destinations.Affected customers are being asked to contact their travel agencies for rebooking, or to reach out directly to Emirates customer service if bookings were made via the airline’s website or app. Emirates issued a formal apology, stating:“We apologise for any inconvenience caused to our customers. We continue to monitor the situation closely.”

Emirates operates 14 flights weekly to Hong Kong and 7 weekly flights to Shenzhen, making the affected routes significant connectors between the Middle East and southern China. These services commonly cater to a mix of business travellers, tourists, and transit passengers on Emirates’ global network.By suspending these services, Emirates is responding proactively to ensure passenger safety amid the anticipated storm-related disruptions. The cancellations will temporarily disrupt travel and cargo movements between Dubai and two of China’s most commercially important cities.

The decision by Emirates aligns with broader disruptions across the region as Super Typhoon Ragasa—classified as the strongest typhoon to threaten Hong Kong in 2025—nears landfall. The storm is forecast to bring destructive winds exceeding 185 km/h along with torrential rain and gale- to storm-force winds in Hong Kong and surrounding areas.In response, Hong Kong International Airport will suspend all passenger flights for 36 hours, from 8 PM on September 23 (local time) to 8 AM on September 25, as confirmed by Qantas Airways.The Hong Kong Observatory announced plans to issue a low-level typhoon warning signal at noon on Monday, with an escalation to a higher warning level between 8 PM and 10 PM the same night.On Sunday, Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong’s flag carrier, said it was closely monitoring the storm and warned of potential changes to its flight schedule depending on how the situation unfolds.

Authorities across Asia are preparing for Ragasa’s impact. In the Philippines, where the typhoon is already moving towards northern Luzon, the government suspended work and school across Metro Manila and other major areas as a precaution.Given the storm’s projected path and intensity, Emirates’ response mirrors the seriousness with which governments and carriers in the region are treating the typhoon.Passengers affected by Emirates’ cancellations are urged to take immediate action regarding rebooking or changes to their travel plans, and to stay updated via the airline’s official communication channels. Go to Source