Observers said on Wednesday that war-driven drops in demand had made some routes commercially unviable, while noting the impact on travellers would be limited as regional carriers still maintained essential services.

Cathay Pacific said flights between Hong Kong and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, and between the city and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, would remain suspended until the end of next month.

All services between Hong Kong and the Middle East were first suspended on February 28 following the joint United States-Israeli attack on Iran.

The airline has extended the suspension multiple times, most recently adding another 17 days to keep services cancelled until the end of the month.

“We’re continuing to monitor the situation closely,” Cathay said. “Further changes to our flight schedule may be needed in the coming days, with the safety of our customers and people being our first priority.”