Hong Kong flights resume after Ragasa shutdown

Published on Sep 25, 2025, 10:50 am CDT

5 min read

Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) restarted flight operations at 6:00 a.m. HKT on September 25 following a 36-hour weather shutdown from Cyclone Ragasa. Airport Authority Hong Kong says all three runways are in service, but a heavy, two-day backlog and continued aircraft and crew repositioning mean rolling delays through September 26. MTR and road links are largely open with some localized disruption as debris clearance continues. Airlines have activated rebooking policies and change-fee waivers, and travelers should reconfirm itineraries before heading to the airport.

Key points

Why it matters: Flights are operating again, but delays and crowding will persist for 48 hours.
Travel impact: Over 1,000 flights expected through Friday with uneven aircraft and crew availability.
What's next: Waivers remain in effect; expect schedule normalization into the weekend.
AAHK confirms 6:00 a.m. restart with all runways open.
Airport Express and roads are running, with spot slowdowns for cleanup.

Snapshot

AAHK confirmed normal flight operations would resume on September 25 after Ragasa forced widespread cancellations from the evening of September 23. Reuters reports all three runways are now active and more than 1,000 flights are expected through Friday as airlines clear backlogs. South China Morning Post noted the authority warned of a two-day surge as services came back online between midnight and 6:00 a.m. HKT. Rail links are returning in phases; MTR suspended open-air sections during peak winds and is restoring service, with the Airport Express extending capacity for post-typhoon traffic. Travelers should arrive earlier than usual, monitor airline apps, and build time for crowded check-in, security, and transport connections.

Background

Ragasa ranked among 2025's most powerful cyclones, triggering Hong Kong's top Typhoon Signal No. 10 and bringing flooding, downed trees, and infrastructure damage across the region. Flights to and from HKG were halted for safety, with Cathay Pacific pre-canceling hundreds of services and moving aircraft to safer locations. The airport remained staffed for essential operations while passenger flights paused. As conditions eased, authorities downgraded signals and coordinated with carriers, ground handlers, and air traffic to stage a controlled restart at 6:00 a.m. HKT on September 25. With crews and planes out of position across Asia, airlines are rebuilding schedules over several days.

Latest developments

Airlines extend rebooking policies for Ragasa disruptions

Cathay Pacific issued special ticketing guidelines that waive rebooking and rerouting charges for tickets issued on or before September 21 for travel September 23-25, with changes required by September 25 and travel completion by December 15, 2025. Cathay's operational update says flights are returning as weather improves. Hong Kong Airlines activated a "Special Ticketing Arrangement," waiving rebooking and rerouting fees and directing passengers to its online rebooking tool. HK Express published a travel alert covering schedule adjustments tied to Ragasa. Travelers holding affected itineraries should use airline apps or websites first, then call centers only if self-service options fail.

Airport operations stabilized, but expect rolling delays

AAHK said normal flight operations would resume on September 25, with all three runways available. Reuters reports more than 1,000 flights are anticipated through Friday as carriers work through queues. SCMP reported the authority's warning of a two-day backlog, with flights resuming overnight into the early morning window to create capacity. Expect knock-on delays, irregular crew rotations, and aircraft substitutions until networks fully restabilize. Build additional time for check-in and baggage claim, and confirm terminal, gate, and connection times frequently.

Ground transport and access improving with phased rail return

MTR suspended several open-air lines, including the Airport Express, during peak winds per a typhoon service bulletin, and then began phased restoration as conditions allowed. Local outlets report Airport Express service extensions to handle the post-storm surge, though isolated slowdowns persist around debris-affected corridors. Roads to the airport are open, but travelers should factor in occasional lane closures and heavier traffic during cleanup. Check MTR's live service page before departing and consider earlier trains to buffer for queues at ticketing and platform access.

Analysis

Today's restart at HKG is textbook storm recovery: a quick pivot from safety shutdown to staggered resumption that prioritizes capacity and predictability. The three-runway posture significantly helps throughput, but the real constraint is fleet and crew displacement. With aircraft spread around diversion airports and rosters out of sequence, schedules will operate "lumpy" for 24 to 48 hours. That favors point-to-point sectors with available aircraft over complex connection banks, so long-haul and regional flights may not sync perfectly. Rail and road access are good leading indicators; as the Airport Express and highways normalize, dwell times at check-in and security tend to fall. For travelers, the winning tactics are self-service rebooking, carry-on where possible, and avoiding tight connections. Corporate travelers should watch for auto-rebook rules that default to next-available flights and consider proactive changes to protect meeting times. Leisure travelers with flexibility can shift to off-peak departures on Friday to bypass the peak recompression.

Final thoughts

Flights are moving again at Hong Kong International Airport, but patience remains essential as the system digests two days of cancellations. Use airline apps, verify ground transport, and add buffer time through Friday. If you can accept alternate routes, dates, or airports, you will clear the queue faster. With three runways active and waivers in place, most travelers should be able to complete trips by the weekend as Hong Kong flights resume.