Typhoon Podul compels 2 flights heading towards Taiwan to divert back to Hong Kong
Hong Kong-Taiwan Flights Affected by Typhoon Podul
Typhoon Podul, the No. 1 storm warning signal of which remains in effect, caused disruptions to several flights between Hong Kong and Taiwan on Wednesday. Two Hong Kong-bound flights, operated by a budget carrier, were forced to return to the city due to unstable weather conditions caused by the typhoon.
The first returning flight, UO110 of Cathay Pacific Airways' budget arm, HK Express, turned around at 12.53pm. The specific airline for flight UO112, which also returned to Hong Kong, is not mentioned in the provided information. This flight initially departed from Hong Kong at 12.35pm and circled above Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport before returning to the city at 5.04pm.
Hundreds of flights in southern Taiwan were canceled due to Typhoon Podul, particularly affecting airports in the southeastern city of Taitung, and the southern metropolises Kaohsiung and Tainan suspended work and school due to the typhoon. In addition, airlines operating between Hong Kong and Taiwan canceled or delayed around 15 flights in anticipation of Podul’s approach.
Airlines and authorities responded by cancelling or delaying flights and urging passengers to check the latest flight statuses before traveling to airports. China Airlines implemented handling guidelines for flight cancellations or delays, waiving change and refund fees for passengers holding tickets affected by typhoons, although the details in the search results specifically referred to a previous Typhoon Francisco event rather than Podul.
Regional authorities also conducted evacuations for vulnerable residents in preparation for the typhoon. This article does not contain any advertisements, and the story is made freely available as a public service.
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Weather-forecasting agencies predicted an unstable weather situation due to Typhoon Podul, leading to the affected flights between Hong Kong and Taiwan. The cancellations and delays of several flights were a result of weather conditions caused by the typhoon.