Hong Kong-based carriers Cathay Pacific and HK Express have said they will reduce flights from mid-May to the end of June, citing “huge cost pressure” due to rising fuel prices amid conflict in the Middle East.
According to one STATEMENT released by the aviation giant on Saturday.
The cancellations will mostly affect regional flights, as well as a small number of routes to Australia, South Asia and South Africa.
HK Express, the budget arm of Cathay Pacific, will drop about 6 percent of flights from May 11 to June 30.
The decision to reduce capacity is due to rising jet fuel prices amid the Middle East crisis, Cathay said.
“In the past month, we have pursued every appropriate means to keep our flights operating normally. This includes adjusting fuel surcharges in an effort to mitigate the increase in jet fuel prices,” he said.
“Despite our best efforts, the measures we have taken to mitigate increased fuel costs have not been sufficient…Reducing capacity has always been our last resort.”
All affected passengers will be offered alternative flights within 24 hours of their original departure time.
Cathay increased fuel charges on all flights with 34 percent on April 1, two weeks later doubling the fees. HK Express too Traveled fuel surcharges on most flights except to and from mainland China.
It also said it would extend the suspension of flights to Dubai and Riyadh until at least June 30 due to the “ongoing situation in the Middle East”.
The outbreak of conflict in the Middle East, caused by the Israeli-American attacks on Iran on February 28, has significantly affected global oil prices.
Citing data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Cathay said the average global jet fuel price had doubled, from $99.40 a barrel for the week ending February 27 to $209 a barrel for the week ending April 3.
