Due to Typhoon Haima, Qantas and Cathay Pacific have cancelled all scheduled services between Australia and Hong Kong that were to operate Friday 21 October. Since mid-week, some aircraft have already been rejecting cargo, including booked perishable goods, in favour of taking on extra fuel to allow for diversions to avoid the dangerous conditions. The airlines are continuing to monitor the situation, and flights scheduled to depart after Friday will be subject to delays due to air traffic constraints. The situation is subject to change rapidly, and exporters and agents are being advised to check back regularly for updates.
As at 5:00pm Brisbane time on Friday 21 Oct., reports say that the massive storm has already caused the delay or cancellation of 740 passenger flights at Hong Kong’s airport. As Haima took direct aim at the city, it was buffeted by winds of 145km/h and torrential rain. The Hong Kong Observatory says that although the typhoon had weakened slightly, it continued to move closer to Hong Kong, and still posed a substantial threat to the territory.
Schools, banks, and other government services, including the courts and the immigration department, were closed for the day after HK Observatory issued its third-highest storm warning, Signal No. 8, early Friday morning. Trading in Hong Kong’s securities and derivatives markets, including the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect program, had been suspended for the day, according to a statement from the Hong Kong stock exchange.
