32 Flights Scrapped and 500 Delayed by Air Canada, Malaysia Airlines, and ANA Wings Across Asia, Leaving Passengers in Limbo in Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, and Vancouver—What You Need to Know About the Massive Disruptions

Published on December 24, 2025

In recent days, severe weather conditions have led to mass flight cancellations across Asia, affecting travelers across key international airports. Air Canada, Malaysia Airlines, and ANA Wings, three prominent airlines, were forced to cancel a total of over 30 flights, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and local tourism severely impacted.

These cancellations were mainly triggered by unexpected weather disturbances, leading to airport delays, and forcing airlines to cancel flights in a bid to ensure passenger safety. As these events unfolded, major cities like Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, and Vancouver became the epicenters of disruption. Passengers, many of whom had planned important business or leisure trips, faced the brunt of this inconvenience. With no immediate options, travelers found themselves scrambling to find alternative arrangements.

As travelers faced flight delays and cancellations, local tourism—already impacted by global challenges—also bore the brunt. But how do these cancellations affect more than just the travelers? What can be done to improve the tourism and travel industry moving forward? Let’s dive deeper into the key facts, affected regions, and what we can learn from this crisis.

Impact of Cancellations: Passengers Left in Limbo

For the affected passengers, the situation was nothing short of chaotic. These mass cancellations not only led to confusion but also disrupted travel plans for thousands, leading to:

• Extended Waiting Times: Passengers were left stranded in airports for hours, with no clarity on when they could depart, forcing many to miss important appointments or leisure travel plans.
• Accommodation Shortages: With no available flights in sight, finding immediate accommodations was challenging, especially in major cities like Tokyo and Kuala Lumpur, where last-minute hotel bookings were unavailable.
• Financial Impact: Many passengers faced additional costs, including last-minute hotel bookings, meal expenses, and rebooking flights. For those on tight budgets, this added financial strain was unmanageable.

Key Data from Cancellations: Weather-Related Disruptions

Based on the available flight schedule data, it’s clear that several flights from Air Canada, Malaysia Airlines, and ANA Wings were impacted due to severe weather. According to trusted aviation sources, these airlines were forced to cancel over 30 flights within the span of two days. A combination of thunderstorms, strong winds, and foggy conditions at key airports in Japan, Malaysia, and Canada was the root cause behind these cancellations.

Flight Cancellation Breakdown by Airline:

• Air Canada: 20 flights cancelled
• Malaysia Airlines: 8 flights cancelled
• ANA Wings: 4 flights cancelled

AIR CANADA FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS

MALAYSIA AIRLINES FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS

ANA WINGS FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS

These cancellations wreaked havoc on travelers’ plans, forcing passengers to seek other modes of transport or reschedule their trips altogether.

Affected Airports: Ground Zero of the Disruptions

The primary airports affected by these cancellations were located in major Asian, North American, and European hubs. These key airports experienced a surge in traffic as travelers scrambled for alternative routes.

Air Canada – Affected Airports:

• Toronto Pearson International (CYYZ): Air Canada faced the brunt of cancellations here, especially for flights connecting to Vancouver and Montreal.
• Vancouver International (CYVR): Another key hub for Air Canada, where domestic and international flights to Asia were impacted.

Malaysia Airlines – Affected Airports:

• Kuala Lumpur International (WMKK): Malaysia Airlines faced major cancellations in Kuala Lumpur, affecting several regional and international flights.
• Indira Gandhi International (DEL): Flights from India were affected due to weather-related issues in Kuala Lumpur, leading to significant disruptions.

ANA Wings – Affected Airports:

• Tokyo International (Haneda) (HND): ANA Wings, a subsidiary of ANA, saw several regional flights grounded at Haneda due to poor weather conditions in the surrounding area.
• Hachijojima (HAC): Located in the Izu Islands, this small airport was significantly impacted by cancellations from ANA Wings.

Affected Regions: Cities and Countries in Chaos

The following key areas were severely affected by the flight disruptions:

Air Canada – Affected Regions:

• Vancouver: As one of Canada’s busiest airports, Vancouver faced severe delays, especially for international connections, including flights to and from Asia and Europe.
• Toronto: The economic and cultural center of Canada, Toronto, saw a significant number of cancellations, especially affecting passengers traveling to and from Montreal, Ottawa, and Vancouver.

Malaysia Airlines – Affected Regions:

• Kuala Lumpur: As the home base of Malaysia Airlines, the capital city of Kuala Lumpur saw cancellations that impacted both domestic and international travelers, particularly those flying to Singapore and India.
• India (Delhi): With adverse weather conditions, travel between Malaysia and India was highly affected, leading to a spike in stranded passengers at Delhi airport.

ANA Wings – Affected Regions:

• Tokyo: The capital of Japan and home to one of the busiest airports, Tokyo faced major disruptions due to weather, with travelers on flights to both domestic and international destinations left stranded.
• Hachijojima: A less common destination, Hachijojima saw its flights cancelled due to weather, affecting the connectivity of smaller regional airports with the main hubs.

Affected Routes: Key Cities and International Connections

Air Canada – Affected Routes:

• Toronto Pearson (CYYZ) to Vancouver (CYVR): Air Canada saw cancellations between Toronto and Vancouver, severely affecting business travelers and tourists visiting Western Canada.
• Toronto Pearson (CYYZ) to Montreal (CYUL): Another major domestic route, this was heavily impacted due to the severe weather conditions, leaving passengers stranded in both cities.

Malaysia Airlines – Affected Routes:

• Kuala Lumpur (WMKK) to Delhi (VIDP): The flight between Malaysia and India was hit by the weather, affecting business and leisure travel.
• Kuala Lumpur (WMKK) to Jeddah (OEJN): The route connecting Malaysia to Saudi Arabia was cancelled, causing issues for pilgrims and other travelers bound for the Middle East.

ANA Wings – Affected Routes:

• Tokyo (HND) to Hachijojima (HAC): ANA Wings’ domestic flights to the smaller island of Hachijojima were cancelled, leaving passengers stranded at Tokyo’s Haneda airport.

The Impact on Local Tourism: A Bleak Picture

The massive flight cancellations across these three airlines also left a significant dent in local tourism industries:

• Japan’s Tourism: Tokyo and the surrounding regions, including smaller islands like Hachijojima, saw a steep decline in tourism as travelers found themselves unable to reach their destinations.
• Malaysia’s Tourism: Kuala Lumpur, a vital hub for Southeast Asia tourism, saw a notable dip in arrivals, especially with key routes to India and Saudi Arabia affected. This disruption was detrimental to Malaysia’s status as a regional tourism powerhouse.
• Canada’s Tourism: Major tourist destinations like Vancouver and Toronto were impacted, as international tourists faced challenges in connecting to popular travel destinations.

For passengers who had planned to visit these regions, the impact was considerable. With flights canceled, many had to either rebook their trips or forgo them entirely, thus impacting not only individual travel plans but also regional economies.

Optimism Amidst the Crisis: Can the Industry Bounce Back?

Despite the chaos caused by these cancellations, there are signs that the tourism industry can recover. Airlines, along with airport authorities, can take steps to mitigate the damage caused by such weather disruptions.

Here’s how the travel industry can bounce back:

• Improved Weather Forecasting Systems: Better forecasting systems will allow airlines to make early decisions regarding flight cancellations and diversions, thus minimizing passenger inconvenience.
• Enhanced Communication with Passengers: Airlines must improve their communication with passengers during disruptions. Timely updates, rebooking options, and clear instructions will help alleviate some of the confusion.
• Investing in Technology: Many passengers have voiced frustration over the lack of clarity in real-time flight status. Airlines investing in advanced technology for managing cancellations can speed up the rebooking process.

Closing Remarks: The Road to Recovery

The tourism and travel industry has always been vulnerable to weather disruptions, but this recent wave of cancellations serves as a reminder of how quickly plans can be derailed. However, with lessons learned and better systems in place, the industry can emerge stronger.

By focusing on transparency, passenger support, and advanced technological solutions, airlines like Air Canada, Malaysia Airlines, and ANA Wings can work towards reducing the impact of future disruptions. For now, travelers must remain resilient as they adapt to the realities of unpredictable weather patterns. Ultimately, the resilience of the travel industry will determine how quickly it can recover.