CHINA (HONG KONG). Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) was forced to cancel many departing flights for the second consecutive day today (13 August) as protesters once again brought the airport to a standstill.
Around 160 flights were cancelled yesterday and, despite clearing some of the backlog this morning, HKIA has cancelled all departing flights from late afternoon.
A Hong Kong Airport Authority statement at 17.15 (HKT) said: “Airport operations at Hong Kong International Airport have been seriously disrupted, all departure flights have been cancelled. All passengers are advised to leave the terminal buildings as soon as possible. Affected passengers please contact their respective airlines for flight arrangement.”
A 16.45 (HKT) statement from Cathay Pacific added: “Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon have been informed by the Airport Authority in Hong Kong that all check-in has been suspended as a result of the public assembly at Hong Kong International Airport, which is ongoing. There is potential for further flight disruptions at short notice”.
The Airport Authority of Hong Kong has advised that all check-in services for departing flights have been suspended.
Passengers are advised not to proceed to the airport. 1/2— Cathay Pacific (@cathaypacific) August 13, 2019
Meanwhile, the Hang Seng Index dropped by a total of 543.42 points (-2.1%) over the course of the day to reach a seven-month low of 25,281.30 and ForwardKeys has reported a major drop in bookings to Hong Kong from Asian markets in recent weeks.
The unrest in Hong Kong stems from protests that began more than two months ago relating to concerns over a proposed extradition bill, which would have allowed suspected criminals to be sent to Mainland China for trial; the bill has since been suspended, but not abandoned.
As reported, the protests have affected the usually vibrant luxury downtown shopping scene in the special administrative region, with the Hong Kong Retail Management Association warning of a major fall in sales and a wave of strikes bringing the city to a standstill.
The protests had already stretched to the airport, where The Shilla Duty Free, CDF-Lagardère and Gebr Heinemann respectively operate the beauty, liquor & tobacco and confectionery concessions. On 26 July, an estimated 1,000 people took part in an 11-hour sit-in protest. That, however, pales in comparison to the recent activity, which has brought one of Asia’s major travel retail hubs to a standstill.
