Cathay Pacific "Resuming Arctic Route Over Russian Airspace from November"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Hong Kong's flagship airline Cathay Pacific announced that it will resume using the Arctic route passing through Russian airspace starting from the 1st of next month. Major Western airlines are expected to continue using detour routes due to restrictions on passing through Russian airspace.

According to local media such as The Standard in Hong Kong on the 31st, Cathay Pacific stated the day before, "We will resume using the Arctic route for flights departing from New York John F. Kennedy Airport to Hong Kong," adding, "These flights will fly over the Russian Far East airspace starting in November. This Arctic route is about 5,000 km away from western Russia and Ukraine. It is a safe direct route and the fastest route from the East Coast of North America to Hong Kong."

Cathay Pacific explained, "Above all, using this route avoids the maximum flight time limit for crew members, eliminating the need for intermediate stops, saving at least four hours." Airlines must replace crew members through intermediate landings if the flight time exceeds the limits set by each country.

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February, major global airlines, including Cathay Pacific, have been using detour routes avoiding Russian airspace for safety. Airlines from Western countries such as the United States, which Russia considers hostile and has banned from passing through its airspace as a retaliatory measure against sanctions, are expected to continue using detour routes. Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong's representative airline, stated that it is not included among the airlines banned from passing through Russian airspace.

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