Cathay Pacific to cancel all flights ahead of super typhoon

HONG KONG - Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific said on Saturday it will cancel all flights, a day ahead of the anticipated arrival of Super Typhoon Usagi, the most powerful storm of the year.

Usagi, forecasted to be closest to Hong Kong on Sunday and Monday, could pose a "severe threat" to the city, the Hong Kong Observatory said on its website.

Cathay Pacific flights in and out of the city will be cancelled from 6pm on Sunday, the airline said, adding that services will gradually resume on Monday "if weather conditions permit".

Dragonair, a sister airline, will cancel flights for the same period.

Hong Kong's international airport will remain open, the authorities told AFP.

Usagi, packing sustained winds of 240kmh with gusts of nearly 300kmh, brought torrential rain and strong winds to the Philippines and Taiwan on Saturday.