Flights Cancelled Impacting Asia as 7,214 Delays and 339 Cancellations Hurt Travel at New Delhi and More Airports

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A total of 7,214 delays and 339 cancellations caused widespread aviation disruptions impacting hundreds of passengers across Asia, hurting travel at New Delhi and other airports throughout the region. The disruption has hit key aviation hubs in China, India, Japan, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Furthermore, heavy operational pressure, aircraft schedule disruptions, airport congestion and network recovery challenges have contributed to the increasing travel impact. Major gateways such as New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi, Shanghai Pudong, Shenzhen Bao’an, Guangzhou Baiyun and Dubai International Airport all reported major delays and cancellations. This resulted in longer waiting times, missed connections and changing journey plans for travelers. The disruption has affected some of the region’s busiest aviation gateways, including airports in China, India, Japan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Turkey.

The latest figures highlight heavy pressure on major airport operations, with China accounting for some of the highest delay numbers across its extensive domestic aviation network. International hubs connecting Asia with the Middle East and Europe have also reported operational challenges, creating delays for passengers travelling across regional and long-haul routes. The disruption has affected airlines, passengers and airport operations as carriers manage delayed aircraft movements, schedule adjustments and increased pressure on airport facilities.

China Becomes the Main Centre of Asia’s Airport Disruptions

China has experienced the largest concentration of airport delays, with several major cities recording hundreds of delayed flights. The country’s extensive domestic aviation system means disruption at major hubs can quickly affect connecting flights across the wider region.

Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport recorded the highest number of delays among the affected airports, with 583 delayed flights and four cancellations. The airport serves one of China’s most important economic centres and plays a major role in connecting southern China with domestic and international destinations. Other heavily affected Chinese airports included Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, which recorded 370 delays and five cancellations, and Shanghai Pudong International Airport, which reported 369 delays and four cancellations.

Major disruption was also recorded at Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, with 308 delays and 12 cancellations, while Beijing Capital International Airport experienced 291 delays and 16 cancellations. Changsha Huanghua International Airport recorded 294 delays and one cancellation, while Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport reported 271 delays and two cancellations. Additional Chinese airports affected included Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport with 202 delays and six cancellations, Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport with 222 delays and 10 cancellations, Xi’an Xianyang International Airport with 194 delays and five cancellations, and Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport with 160 delays and 32 cancellations.

The scale of disruption across China shows the pressure placed on one of the world’s busiest aviation markets, where delays at major hubs can create wider network impacts for airlines and passengers.

Airports and Cities Across Asia Experience Significant Operational Pressure

The disruption has extended beyond China, affecting important airports across Asia.

In India, two major international gateways recorded notable disruption. Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi reported 149 delays and nine cancellations, while Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai recorded 98 delays and seven cancellations. In Japan, Naha Airport experienced 219 delays and one cancellation, affecting travellers using the important Okinawa gateway.

In Indonesia, Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport reported 230 delays and 18 cancellations, while Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport recorded 78 delays and 17 cancellations. These disruptions affected passengers travelling through Southeast Asia’s major air connectivity network. Thailand’s main aviation hub, Suvarnabhumi Bangkok International Airport, recorded 254 delays and five cancellations, creating challenges for passengers connecting through Bangkok.

South Korea’s Incheon International Airport reported 182 delays and one cancellation, while Hong Kong International Airport recorded 250 delays and two cancellations, affecting one of Asia’s most important international transit hubs. The impact also reached Gulf aviation gateways that handle significant Asia-bound traffic. Dubai International Airport recorded 337 delays and six cancellations, while Sharjah International Airport reported 68 delays and four cancellations. Saudi Arabia also experienced disruption, with King Khalid International Airport recording 100 delays and 27 cancellations, while King Abdulaziz International Airport reported 95 delays and 20 cancellations.

Airlines Across China and Asia Face High Levels of Disruption

Several major airlines were affected by the widespread airport delays and cancellations.

Among carriers, China Eastern recorded the highest number of delays, with 633 delayed flights and eight cancellations. China Southern followed with 565 delays and four cancellations, while Air China reported 359 delays and 27 cancellations. Other Chinese carriers also experienced significant operational pressure. Shenzhen Airlines recorded 305 delays and five cancellations, while XiamenAir reported 219 delays and 30 cancellations. International airlines operating across Asia were also impacted. Turkish Airlines recorded 216 delays and two cancellations, while India’s IndiGo reported 191 delays and two cancellations. Air India recorded 71 delays and four cancellations.

Among Middle Eastern carriers, Saudia recorded 54 delays and 45 cancellations, while Batik Air of Indonesia experienced 53 delays and 22 cancellations. The disruption shows how airline networks remain closely connected. A delay at a major airport can affect aircraft availability, crew schedules, passenger transfers and onward journeys.

What Affected Passengers Should Do During the Disruption

Passengers facing delays or cancellations should monitor their travel updates closely and communicate directly with their airline.

Travellers should check airline websites, mobile applications and airport information systems before leaving for the airport. Flight schedules can change quickly during periods of widespread disruption.

Passengers should also avoid making independent changes to bookings before speaking with the airline, as carriers may provide alternative arrangements depending on the situation.

Travellers affected by delays should:

• Arrive early at airports because customer service counters may experience higher demand.
• Confirm connecting flight timings, especially when travelling through major hubs such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Dubai.
• Keep boarding passes, booking confirmations and travel documents available.
• Follow official airline notifications rather than relying on unofficial updates.
• Maintain flexibility, particularly when travelling on routes involving multiple connections.

Passengers should also keep receipts for essential expenses where airline policies allow reimbursement or assistance.

Data Verification Notice

The data has been extensively curated by our editorial team using real-time aviation figures recorded on 18 August 2026 at 3:33 pm ET USA (11:33 pm GST).
Primary Source: FlightAware.
Verification Protocol: All statistics have been independently reviewed and cross-checked by our human editorial desk. Timestamped records, data logs and feed snapshots are securely archived internally to support historical accuracy and editorial transparency.
Note: Real-time flight-tracking figures reflect active airspace and operational data. Minor variations may occur when compared with information displayed at individual airport terminals or airline departure gates.

Explore more travel industry insights and latest updates from previously published reports on the flight disruptions on Travel and Tour World website here.