The Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific is to invest in Irish tourism next year.

The carrier has announced it is to freeze its Dublin route for the remainder of 2019.

It will resume flying the service on March 30th 2020.

The company said this decision was made after "careful review of the current business environment".

"We have made the decision to temporarily suspend our service between Dublin and Hong Kong from 7 November 2019 until 29 March 2020," a spokesperson told Newstalk.com.

"This is a difficult decision to make, but also a necessary one in view of the commercial challenges we currently face.

"The Dublin and Hong Kong non-stop flight will resume on 30 March 2020."

However as part of that process, the company said it will invest in additional tourism marketing in Asia and Australia.

Cathay Pacific Airways planes are seen at the Hong Kong International Airport | Image: Vincent Thian/AP/Press Association Images

Cathay Pacific added that in the meantime, it would "continue to strengthen our investments in the Irish market" - with additional marketing activities in the coming months.

The spokesperson said: "Our dedicated Ireland team based in Dublin will continue to grow our brand presence, while our teams in Asia and Australia have begun tactical promotions in their respective markets targeting the summer 2020 season, for when our non-stop flight returns."

"We are confident in the long-term prospect and strength of the traffic between Ireland, Hong Kong and the rest of Asia."

The carrier has seen itself caught up in ongoing protests in its home market.

Rupert Hogg resigned as CEO back in August as part of "senior management changes".

It was reported at the time that some staff were fired for taking part in, or in relation to, the demonstrations.

China had accused the carrier of not doing enough to rein in its workers.

Its business and stock price were also hit, after hundreds of its flights were cancelled when protesters overran the airport.

The Cathay Pacific route from Dublin launched in June last year as Ireland’s first and only non-stop flight to Hong Kong.