Cathay Pacific to resume Middle East flights

HONG KONG - Hong Kong’s flagship airline Cathay Pacific announced on July 2 that it will resume flights to the Middle East, as the United States and Iran signal that efforts to end the war remain viable.

Following the two sides’ indirect discussions in Doha on July 1, US President Donald Trump, as well as mediators Qatar and Pakistan, offered signs that diplomacy was holding, despite exchanges of fire this week.

Cathay suspended flights to Dubai and Riyadh at the end of February after the war broke out.

The airline has raised fuel surcharges several times as the conflict has driven up oil prices.

It said on July 2 that it would resume daily passenger flights to Dubai and four-times weekly passenger flights to Riyadh from Sept 1.

Freighter services to Riyadh will resume from Aug 1.

“Cathay will continue to closely monitor the evolving situation in the Middle East prior to the resumption dates,” the company said. AFP