Super Typhoon Ragasa Forces Hundreds of Flight Cancellations Across Asia

Hundreds of flights across China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong were canceled on Wednesday as Super Typhoon Ragasa, one of the year’s most powerful storms, made landfall.

The storm, which had previously reached Category 5 status before weakening to a Category 3 on Wednesday, has disrupted air travel at the region’s busiest hubs. The typhoon also caused extensive damage in Taiwan and the Philippines, with Reuters reporting at least 17 deaths in Taiwan and hitting the whole region with torrential rain.

Impact was immediately felt at major hubs, including Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN), one of the world’s busiest. According to FlightAware, the airport canceled more than 150 flights (20% of its overall schedule) on Wednesday. Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) saw an even greater disruption, with 26% of its schedule dropped, totaling more than 130 flights.

Airlines including China Southern Airlines, Cathay Pacific, China Eastern, Hainan Airlines, Air China, and Qantas are all seeing their schedules heavily impacted by Ragasa.

Qantas announced this week that flights will be impacted through Thursday, Sept. 25, and it is offering all travelers scheduled to fly through Sept. 29 the ability to change their flight without penalty or to cancel and receive a full refund. The airline also said it will contact all impacted passengers directly.

Cathay Pacific said it was returning to its normal schedule out of Hong Kong International, where the weather has begun to subside, “as quickly as possible.” Cathay’s travel waiver runs through Sept. 25 and allows travelers to rebook, reroute, or receive a refund without penalty.