Cathay Pacific Flight Cancellation: Refunds, Rebooking and What to Do Next

Cathay Pacific has suspended its Hong Kong flights to Dubai and Riyadh until at least 31 August 2026, with Tel Aviv halted indefinitely.

Here’s whether you can get a refund, how to rebook, and what your passenger rights are.

Which Cathay Pacific Routes Are Affected?

The table below shows Cathay Pacific’s suspended Middle East services. All routes operate via Hong Kong International Airport (HKG).

Cathay Pacific’s other routes — including London, Singapore, Tokyo, Sydney, and New York — continue to operate. Some long-haul European flights may be re-routed to avoid affected airspace, and Cathay has shifted capacity to European routes where demand is stronger.

Dubai and Riyadh airports themselves remain open, and UAE airspace fully reopened on 2 May 2026. Cathay has kept both routes suspended, citing soft travel demand and ongoing regional security concerns rather than a closed airport.

A fresh attack on Kuwait’s main airport on 3 June 2026 has renewed security worries across the Gulf, so the end-August date is not guaranteed and could be extended again.

Check Cathay Pacific’s live flight status on Wego for the latest on any route, or read our Cathay Pacific flight status guide for the full network picture.

How to Check If Your Cathay Pacific Flight Is Cancelled

The Hong Kong–Dubai and Hong Kong–Riyadh routes are already cancelled through at least end-August, but it’s worth confirming any flight before you travel:

• Flight status: See our Cathay Pacific flight status guide for the latest route-by-route picture, or check live departures on the Wego flight tracker.
• Cathay’s app or website: Real-time status, plus SMS alerts if you’ve registered your mobile number.

Your Options: Refund, Rebook, or Reroute

Full refund is the cleanest option if your travel plans are no longer viable. Cathay Pacific is waiving all cancellation fees for affected Middle East flights. You may request a refund without the usual fees if your booking qualifies under Cathay’s waiver policy.

Rebooking makes sense if you’re willing to wait. Cathay Pacific is allowing free date changes for passengers booked to travel through 30 September 2026, subject to seat availability. There’s no guarantee the suspension won’t be extended again.

Rerouting is for passengers who absolutely need to reach their destination now. Eligible passengers may reroute without the usual fees, but the exact routing offered depends on Cathay’s policy, availability, and possible fare-difference rules.

How to Get a Refund from Cathay Pacific

If you booked directly with Cathay Pacific

1. Log into Manage Booking on the Cathay Pacific website or app.
2. If your itinerary is eligible, use the available cancel/change option in Manage Booking to request a refund.
3. Cathay says refund requests normally take up to 7 calendar days to process, but some cases can take longer.

If the online system doesn’t offer a refund option for your specific booking, contact Cathay Pacific’s Customer Care team directly (see the Contact Information section below). Have your booking reference and ticket number ready.

If you booked through a travel agent or OTA

Cathay Pacific directs passengers who booked through third parties to contact their original booking agent for refunds. This includes bookings made through online travel agencies like Expedia, Trip.com, or Booking.com, as well as traditional travel agents.

In practice, this can be frustrating — the OTA may say they’re waiting on the airline, while the airline says they’ve already authorised the refund. If you hit a dead end with your travel agent, escalate by contacting Cathay Pacific directly and asking them to confirm the refund authorisation to your agent. Keep screenshots of all correspondence.

How to Rebook Your Cathay Pacific Flight

Cathay Pacific is waiving rebooking, rerouting, and refund fees for all affected Middle East routes. Here’s how to rebook:

1. Log in to Manage Booking on cathaypacific.com or the Cathay Pacific app.
2. Select your cancelled flight and choose “Rebook” as your option.
3. Browse available dates. For Dubai and Riyadh routes, the earliest realistic dates are from September 2026 onward, subject to service resumption.
4. Confirm your new itinerary. Change fees are waived; however, fare differences may apply depending on your original fare class.

Under Cathay’s current waiver, bookings for travel through 30 September 2026 can be changed without fees, subject to seat availability.

If you’d prefer to reroute — for example, flying to Dubai via Singapore or Bangkok on a partner airline — contact Cathay Pacific’s Customer Care team, as rerouting options aren’t always available through the self-service portal.

Passengers who booked through a travel agent or OTA should contact their original booking channel for rebooking assistance.

What to Do If You’re Already in Dubai or Riyadh

If you’re in the Gulf and your Cathay Pacific return to Hong Kong falls within the suspended period, contact Cathay Pacific to arrange a rerouted return — for example via Doha, Mumbai, or Singapore on a partner airline.

Keep receipts for any extra hotel nights, meals, and transport — you may be able to claim them back through travel insurance or the airline. Need more nights? Check hotels in Dubai or hotels in Riyadh on Wego.

If your Cathay flight was part of a multi-stop trip, the onward connection is only Cathay’s responsibility if both segments were on a single through-ticket. On separate tickets, contact the other airline yourself.

Your Passenger Rights

Armed conflict and airspace disruption count as extraordinary circumstances in most jurisdictions, so airlines are exempt from fixed cash compensation. Your core right is a full refund or rebooking. Here’s how it breaks down:

• Hong Kong: No fixed-sum compensation law, but Cathay’s conditions of carriage still require a choice of full refund or rebooking — which it is honouring with fee waivers.
• EU (EC 261/2004): Only applies to flights departing an EU airport, so it doesn’t cover Hong Kong–Dubai or Hong Kong–Riyadh. Even where it applies, no fixed compensation in these circumstances — but refund, rebooking, and care still stand.
• UK (UK261): Applies to flights leaving UK airports. Same rule — no fixed compensation here, but your right to a refund (within 7 days) and care/assistance remains.
• Montreal Convention: Lets you claim proven extra costs (lost hotel nights, alternative transport) up to about 6,303 SDR. Keep receipts; claims must be filed within 2 years.

Will Travel Insurance Cover This?

It depends on when you bought your policy and what it covers — war and armed conflict are often excluded, so read the fine print. Our guide on whether travel insurance covers war-related cancellations walks through the detail. The key points:

• Trip cancellation cover: Pays out if you cancel due to a covered event. Check the exclusions — some policies cover “acts of terrorism” but not “armed conflict.”
• Trip disruption cover: Applies if you’re already travelling. Reimburses extra hotel, meal, and transport costs, though budget policies may cap daily limits.
• Credit card cover: Premium cards often include trip disruption protection — usually only if you paid for the full ticket on that card.
• No insurance? Your best route is the airline’s refund and expense process, plus any Montreal Convention claim for proven costs.

Whatever you do, gather documentation now: cancellation emails, boarding passes, receipts, and any correspondence with the airline.

Cathay Pacific Contact Information

During peak periods, phone wait times can exceed an hour. WhatsApp is often faster for straightforward rebooking and refund requests.

Tips for Affected Travellers

• Don’t panic-book replacement flights at inflated prices. Wait for Cathay Pacific’s rerouting options first, or check flights to Dubai or flights to Riyadh on Wego to compare what’s available across all airlines.
• Always request a cash refund explicitly. Don’t accept a travel voucher unless that’s genuinely what you prefer.
• Document everything from day one. Cancellation emails, receipts, screenshots — you’ll need them for insurance claims or Montreal Convention claims.
• Check your credit card’s travel protection. Premium cards often include trip disruption coverage that many travellers forget about.
• Use WhatsApp instead of the phone hotline. During mass disruptions, Cathay Pacific’s phone lines can have wait times exceeding an hour. Their WhatsApp service (+852 2747 2747) is available 24/7 and is often significantly faster for rebooking and refund requests.
• If rebooking, choose dates well past the suspension end date. The suspension has already been extended multiple times — pick dates in September 2026 or later to give yourself a buffer.
• Consider indirect routes if you must travel now. Routes via Singapore, Bangkok, or Mumbai may still have availability on other carriers.
• Monitor the situation — don’t assume dates are final. Cathay Pacific has extended the suspension multiple times since early March 2026 — now through at least end-August — and further extensions remain possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a full refund if Cathay Pacific cancels my flight?

Yes. Cathay Pacific is offering full refunds with no cancellation fees for all flights affected by the Middle East suspensions. Request a cash refund — don’t accept a travel voucher unless that’s genuinely what you prefer.

How long will the cancellations last?

Dubai and Riyadh passenger services are suspended until at least 31 August 2026, though cargo flights to Dubai still operate. Tel Aviv has been suspended indefinitely since October 2025. The suspension has been extended multiple times, and further extensions are possible depending on the security situation.

Are Cathay Pacific’s other routes affected?

Not directly. Services to Southeast Asia, East Asia, Australasia, Europe, and North America continue to operate. Some long-haul European flights may have minor routing adjustments to avoid affected airspace, and Cathay has shifted capacity to European routes where demand is stronger.

What if I booked through a travel agent or Expedia?

Contact your original booking channel first. Cathay Pacific directs third-party bookings back to the issuing agent for refunds and rebooking. If your agent is unresponsive, contact Cathay Pacific directly to confirm the refund authorisation has been issued.

Will Cathay Pacific pay for extra costs if I’m caught out?

These routes are cancelled well in advance, so most travellers can refund or rebook before they fly. If you’re already in the Gulf and need to extend your stay, keep all receipts for hotels, meals, and transport, and submit a claim to the airline or your travel insurer. Hong Kong law does not guarantee fixed assistance during force majeure.

Can I reroute to Dubai via another airline?

Yes. Cathay Pacific is waiving rerouting fees and may help you book onto a partner carrier. However, availability is limited as many airlines have also suspended or reduced Gulf services. Check flights to Dubai on Wego to see which carriers still have availability.

Am I entitled to compensation beyond a refund?

Under most jurisdictions, the Middle East conflict qualifies as an extraordinary circumstance, which exempts airlines from paying fixed compensation. You are still entitled to a full refund or rebooking, plus care and assistance if stranded. Under the Montreal Convention, you can claim for proven additional expenses up to approximately 6,303 SDR.

What about my Cathay Pacific frequent flyer miles?

If your cancelled flight was booked using Asia Miles, the miles should be reinstated to your account when the ticket is refunded. Contact the Cathay membership team if your miles aren’t returned within 14 days of the refund being processed.

I have a connecting flight with another airline after my Cathay Pacific flight — what happens?

If both flights were on a single ticket (an oneworld alliance through-booking), Cathay Pacific is responsible for rebooking your entire journey. If they were separate tickets, the connecting flight is your responsibility — contact the second airline directly to discuss your options.

Sources

1. Cathay Pacific — Operations to the Middle East
2. Cathay Pacific — Latest Situation in Dubai
3. Cathay Pacific — Latest Situation in Riyadh
4. Cathay Pacific — Latest Situation in Tel Aviv
5. Cathay Pacific — Contact Us
6. The National — Middle East Flight Status Updates

Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.