Severe Typhoon Champi: more than 70 Hong Kong–Taiwan flights cancelled on 23 October

Severe Typhoon Champi forced the cancellation of more than 70 flights between Hong Kong International Airport and Taiwan on Friday 23 October 2026, with further cuts on some Japan services as the storm closed in on Taiwan.

That confirms the corridor disruption flagged in our earlier Champi update: Hong Kong itself was not under a tropical cyclone signal, but flights into Champi’s path were heavily cut.

What was cancelled on 23 October

According to SCMP’s noon check of the HKIA website, more than 30 flights between Hong Kong and Taipei Taoyuan were cancelled, plus nine outbound services to Kaohsiung and Taichung. Across the day the Hong Kong–Taiwan tally rose above 70 cancellations. Affected carriers included Cathay Pacific, HK Express, Hong Kong Airlines, Starlux, China Airlines and EVA Air.

HK Express cancelled ten Taiwan flights on the 23rd — six Taipei, two Taichung and two Kaohsiung — and deferred four Taichung/Kaohsiung flights to Saturday 24 October, notifying passengers by email (SCMP). Hong Kong Airlines had already cancelled its Thursday 22 October Okinawa pair (HX658/HX659). Affected Hong Kong carriers waived change fees for disrupted tickets.

For travellers

If you were booked Hong Kong–Taiwan (or Okinawa) around 22–24 October, check your airline app and any email first — lists moved through the day. Free changes or refunds were on offer from the Hong Kong carriers named above; fare/tax differences may still apply depending on the ticket. For Europe, Southeast Asia and other corridors not pointed at Champi’s track, treat this as a Taiwan/Japan-route story unless your airline says otherwise.

Sources: SCMP — more than 70 HKG–Taiwan flights cancelled (23 Oct 2026); SCMP — HK Express / Hong Kong Airlines Taiwan & Japan cuts. Flight lists change — always verify with the airline.