Hong Kong‘s premier airline, Cathay Pacific, has been compelled to cancel 34 flights this week due to a sudden wave of seasonal flu among its pilots.

The cancellations, affecting major routes connecting key Asian business and tourism hubs, were reported by the Hong Kong Standard. Flights to and from cities like Shanghai, Beijing, Taipei, Dubai, Delhi, and Dhaka were among those disrupted.

Cathay Pacific clarified that the cancellations, which accounted for less than 1% of their total flights, were prompted by an increased number of pilots falling ill with seasonal illnesses since mid-December.

This followed the axing of 16 flights during the Christmas period, including crucial long-haul journeys to London and Amsterdam. An additional 28 flights were suspended leading up to New Year’s Eve.

The airline reassured the public, stating that despite these cancellations, their overall operations remained normal, with an observed rise in the volume of flights during the holiday season.

A source from Cathay Pacific, cited by Bloomberg, emphasized the airline’s commitment to minimizing disruptions and apologized to affected customers.

Reports from the Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association revealed a substantial reduction in Cathay’s pilot count, dropping from 3,885 in Q4 of 2019 to 2,532 as of December last year. The airline expressed regret for the inconvenience caused and vowed to take all necessary steps to mitigate further disruptions.

The unexpected pilot shortage due to seasonal illnesses has underscored operational challenges for Cathay Pacific, prompting disruptions during peak travel periods and raising concerns about the impact on the airline’s service reliability moving forward.