Vietnam carriers cancel Hong Kong flights as Super Typhoon Ragasa disrupts Asia travel

Vietnam Airlines suspended its Ho Chi Minh City–Hong Kong service for the day and rerouted several flights to Northeast Asia to protect passengers and crew. Normally, the national flag carrier operates one round-trip from Ho Chi Minh City to Hong Kong and another from Hanoi to Hong Kong daily.

Low-cost carrier Vietjet also canceled two flights on the Da Nang–Macau route and two flights linking Ho Chi Minh City with Hong Kong.

The airlines warned that other domestic and international services may also face delays or last-minute changes due to the storm's impact.

Airlines are urging travelers to stay updated and keep seatbelts fastened throughout flights, with turbulence expected as Ragasa churns near regional air corridors.

Vietnam's National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said Ragasa reached peak winds of 221 kph over the northern East Sea on Tuesday afternoon, before moving west-northwest at around 20 kph. By Wednesday morning, the typhoon is forecast to weaken slightly but remain dangerous as it closes in on southern China's Leizhou Peninsula.

By Sept. 25, Ragasa is expected to approach Guangdong Province with wind speed at up to 133 kph and gusts up to 166 kph, before shifting south and crossing into northern Vietnam later that day with wind speed of up to 88 kph, continuing to weaken as it moves inland.