Flights cancelled in Hong Kong after airport invasion by protesters

Authorities in Hong Kong have cancelled Monday flights in the semi-autonomous territory after protesters entered arrival halls to stage demonstrations.

According to airport authorities, all the remaining departing and arriving flights at one of the world’s busiest travel hubs, have been suspended due to the rally.

“Other than the departure flights that have completed the check-in process and the arrival flights that are already heading to Hong Kong, all other flights have been cancelled for the rest of today,” the airport authority said in a statement.

“Airport operations at Hong Kong International Airport have been seriously disrupted as a result of the public assembly at the airport today,” the statement said.

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It said traffic on roads to the airport was very congested and car park spaces were full. “Members of the public are advised not to come to the airport,” the statement added.

The development comes after undaunted protesters took to the streets on Sunday, in defiance of a police ban on unauthorised rallies.

Young people have been at the forefront of recent protests, worried about the erosion of freedoms in Hong Kong, while also concerned with issues such as wealth disparities in the city.

Protesters have increasingly adopted flash tactics, playing a cat and mouse game with police to evade capture defying a police ban on marches in the Chinese-controlled territory.

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