Cathay Pacific has suspended all freighter and passenger flights to Dubai and Riyadh until May due to the Middle East conflict, reports London's Air Cargo News.

The airline said the cancellations were made to provide certainty for customers amid the volatile situation. Freighter flights had been operating between Hong Kong and Al Maktoum International Airport.

Flights transiting the affected area are being rerouted. Cathay Pacific said safety remains the guiding principle in its decisions and that it is monitoring developments closely.

Other carriers have also extended suspensions. IAG Cargo halted flights between London and Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Tel Aviv until June, and flights to Abu Dhabi until October. Lufthansa Cargo suspended flights to Tel Aviv until April 9 and Riyadh until April 5, with wider suspensions across the region through late March.

The war's impact is increasingly felt in the air cargo market, with freight rates rising. Forwarders in Hong Kong have criticised fuel surcharges imposed by airlines, while Oman Air Cargo has introduced