Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific to restart use of polar route flight path over Russia after it was axed in March because of invasion of Ukraine
- Airline tells passengers polar route safe to travel and a better option than longer Atlantic flight path used as stopgap
- Cathay Pacific also signals hundreds more flights to destinations popular with Hong Kong residents
Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways will resume its use of Russian airspace on its trips from New York to the city from Tuesday – a return to a flight path it abandoned in March because of the war in Ukraine.
The airline said on Sunday it would restart flights on what is known as the “polar route” and reassured passengers it was a safe option.
“In view of strong headwinds and payload issues affecting our flights from the east coast of North America to Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific will be operating the polar route for flights departing from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to Hong Kong,” Cathay said.
“These flights will be overflying the far eastern part of Russia starting from November, subject to weather and headwind conditions.”
The flagship airline said the route was “safe, direct and the fastest experience” for passengers travelling from the east coast of North America, and highlighted it would eliminate the need for a stop in another city for a change of aircrew because of mandatory flight time limits – which could add at least four hours to a journey.