Hundreds of Asia Flights Canceled as Powerful Typhoon 'Rajasa' Strikes

Cathay Pacific canceled over 500 flights Tuesday as Typhoon Rajasa barrels through the South China Sea, causing major disruptions across Asia's aviation network. The storm is expected to hit air travel hardest on Wednesday, with Hong Kong International Airport—a key hub for flights across Asia and to Australia and New Zealand—preparing for significant operational chaos.

While Hong Kong's airport will technically stay open during the typhoon, officials warned travelers to expect "major disruptions" to flight operations. Airport authorities are setting up a dedicated area to accommodate stranded passengers and urging travelers to check their flight status directly with airlines.

Other carriers across the region have also grounded numerous flights as the powerful storm moves through one of the world's busiest air corridors. The cancellations highlight how vulnerable Asia's interconnected aviation network remains to severe weather events, particularly during typhoon season.

For airlines, these mass cancellations mean immediate revenue losses and costly rebooking operations. But the bigger concern is the ripple effect—when a major hub like Hong Kong goes down, it disrupts connections across the entire Asia-Pacific region. Business travelers and tourists heading to Australia, New Zealand, and other Asian destinations will likely face delays stretching into the weekend.

Hong Kong's airport handles over 70 million passengers annually and serves as a critical gateway between East and West. When weather forces hundreds of flight cancellations here, the impact spreads far beyond the city's borders, affecting travel plans across multiple continents.