Hong Kong International Airport has announced a complete suspension of all passenger flights for 36 hours due to the approaching Super Typhoon Ragas, marking the longest flight halt in the airport’s recent history, The Straits Times reports.
Airport authorities stated that all flights will be grounded from 6:00 PM local time on September 23 until 6:00 AM on September 25. Qantas Airways has already updated its website with the revised schedule.
The Hong Kong Observatory confirmed that Ragas has intensified into a super typhoon, with sustained winds in the storm’s center reaching 230 kilometers per hour—equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane.
In comparison, Typhoon Saola caused a 20-hour suspension at the airport in September 2023, while Typhoon Bipan led to a 13-hour halt in July 2025.
As one of the world’s busiest hubs, Hong Kong International Airport handles approximately 1,100 flights and nearly 190,000 passengers daily. Officials warn that the 36-hour shutdown could significantly affect the daily lives and economy of the city’s 7.5 million residents.
Source: The Straits Times