A Cathay Pacific Airbus A350-1000 widebody en route to Hong Kong was forced to land at Reykjavik Keflavik International Airport (KEF) in Iceland due to a medical emergency onboard. As a result of the emergency, the flight from Toronto to Hong Kong experienced a 54-hour delay.
Flight details
On January 2, 2025, the Cathay Pacific Airbus A350-1000, registered as B-LXM, was conducting long-haul flight CX829 from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) to Hong Kong International Airport (HKG).
While flying over Greenland, the flight crew diverted to Reykjavik Keflavik International Airport due to a medical emergency onboard the aircraft. In a comment to Simple Flying, a Cathay Pacific spokesperson confirmed the incident:
“Cathay Pacific flight CX829 from Toronto to Hong Kong on 2 January was diverted to Keflavik International Airport in order to offload a passenger who needed urgent medical attention.”
After offloading the passenger and refueling the Airbus A350, the captain of the flight decided to return to Toronto (YYZ). The decision was made due to the statutory requirements on crew operation and rest hours set by the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department (HKCAD), as the remaining crew hours would not have allowed the flight to make it to Hong Kong. The airline said in the statement:
“Our local team in Toronto duly arranged hotel accommodation with meal and transportation for our customers as appropriate. Safety guides every decision we make. We sincerely apologize to the affected customers for the inconvenience.”
The flight to Hong Kong departed at 15:30 local Toronto time the next day with another set of operating crew, the Hong Kong national airline told Simple Flying. The flight between Toronto and Hong Kong typically takes 15 hours, and it is one of the longest routes in the carrier’s route network, according to Flightradar24.com data.
Photo: KITTIKUN YOKSAP | Shutterstock
The legacy carrier did not specify if the flight was fully booked. However, the airline’s Airbus A350-1000 can seat up to 334 passengers in a three-class cabin layout: 46 in business class, 32 in premium economy, and 256 in economy class, according to ch-aviation data.
It is worth noting that Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific operates a total of 18 A350-1000 widebodies at an average age of 5.2 years, making it the world’s second-largest A350-1000 operator after Qatar Airways. The carrier also boasts a hefty fleet of Airbus A350-900s, totaling 30 units.
Cathay’s Airbus A350-1000 network
Airbus A350s have been an excellent workhorse for Cathay Pacific on its routes connecting Hong Kong, Europe, Australia, North America, and a few short-haul Asian destinations.
The oneworld carrier typically deploys its A350-1000s on routes to London Heathrow (LHR), Manchester (MAN), Amsterdam (AMS), Frankfurt (FRA), Zurich (ZRH), and Madrid (MAD) in Europe. When it comes to the North American continent, Cathay uses its long-haul workhorse on flights to New York (JFK), Boston (BOS), and Toronto (YYZ). It is worth noting that most destinations also see equipment other than the A350-1000.
However, the airline will start operating on a new route between Hong Kong (HKG) and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) in the United States. The new Texas route, set to begin on April 24, 2025, is scheduled on the 334-seat A350-1000 and will be the carrier’s longest across its network. The first route to DFW will operate with four return flights weekly.
Photo: Christchurch Airport
The new corridor is meant to strengthen Cathay’s presence in the United States and add more international connectivity at its home base in Hong Kong. By adding more routes to its network, Cathay Pacific is also driving the recovery of HKG, which has been through the dual troubles of political unrest followed by the lockdowns of the global pandemic.
54-Hour Delay: Medical Emergency Diverts Cathay Pacific Toronto-Hong Kong Flight
