The annual gathering of Asia Pacific airline chiefs has been cancelled at the last minute.
The 63rd Association of Asia Pacific Airlines Assembly of Presidents was due to be held in Hong Kong on November 21-22 2019, but the ‘difficult decision’ was made to cancel, given the ongoing turmoil in the city.
It ‘reflects the unpredictability of the situation in Hong Kong’ the AAPA said in a statement.
"AAPA deeply regrets the inconvenience and disappointment caused by this change of plans. We are reaching out to all registered participants in the coming days."
There was ‘careful deliberation together with the host airline Cathay Pacific Airways’ in coming to the decision to cancel. AAPA says.
As Hong Kong’s major carrier, the months-long anti-government protests have had a major impact on Cathay.
It is paring seat capacity again for the winter season and has seen big falls in yield and loadings.
However transit traffic has remained steady and services to and from Japan hae performed well thanks to the Rugby World Cup.
The big downturn has been on services to and from the Chinese Mainland, with Hong Kong’s group tour industry reeling and hotels struggling to fill rooms, even with huge discounting.
