Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, and More Spark Travel Disruptions in China as Over 60 Flights Are Cancelled Across Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, and More – New Update

Published on December 29, 2025

Air travel across the country faced renewed strain after a total of 69 cancellations were recorded across major airports over several days. This latest round of China flight cancellations affected routes linking key cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Xi’an, Kunming, Urumqi, Nanjing, Wuxi, Guiyang, Lanzhou, Zhongwei, Yantai, Dazhou, Haikou, Fuzhou, Riyadh, Amsterdam, and others. The scale and geographic spread of these disruptions point to network-wide operational pressure rather than isolated airport-level issues.

The cancellations impacted both domestic and limited international services, involving a wide mix of narrowbody and widebody aircraft. A recurring theme across multiple hubs was the suspension of westbound services, particularly flights connected to Urumqi.

Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport: Multiple Regional Links Affected

At Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport, airlines cancelled eight departures over Sunday and Monday. These cancellations cut off scheduled services to Shenzhen, Guiyang, Chengdu, Yinchuan, Beijing, Xi’an, and Guangzhou.

Key points:

• Aircraft involved included Airbus A320, A321, and Boeing 737-800
• Both regional and high-traffic trunk routes were affected
• Disruptions extended across more than one operating day

Xi’an Xianyang International Airport: Heavy Concentration of Cancellations

Xi’an Xianyang International Airport saw one of the highest volumes of cancellations, with eleven departures removed from schedules. Flights to Nanjing, Wuxi, Zunyi, Hangzhou, Jiangbulake, and Urumqi were affected.

Notable details:

• Multiple services to Urumqi were cancelled
• Aircraft types ranged from Airbus A320 to Boeing 737 and 737 MAX
• Repeated westbound cuts highlighted corridor-level instability

These patterns clearly reflect ongoing Urumqi route suspensions across the network.

Kunming Changshui International Airport: Southwest Connectivity Reduced

Kunming Changshui International Airport recorded four cancelled departures. Airlines halted flights to Zhongwei, Haikou, Urumqi, and Chengdu Tianfu.

Impact summary:

• Reduced access between southwest China and northern/coastal regions
• Disruption to both leisure and transfer-oriented traffic

Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport: Sustained Two-Day Disruptions

Nine departures were cancelled at Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport across Sunday and Monday. These Shenzhen flight cancellations affected routes to Hangzhou, Nanjing, Lanzhou, Urumqi, Shanghai Hongqiao, and Guiyang.

Key observations:

• Boeing 737 and Airbus A320/A321 aircraft were involved
• Both short- and medium-haul routes were impacted
• The spread suggests ongoing schedule rebalancing

Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport: Repeated Western Route Cuts

Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport reported six cancellations, including flights to Yangzhou Taizhou, Hangzhou, Beijing, and Urumqi.

Highlights:

• Airbus A319, A320, A321, and A320neo aircraft affected
• Loss of connectivity to political, commercial, and western hubs
• Western routes remained the most exposed

Shanghai Airports: Passenger and Cargo Services Disrupted

At Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, four departures were cancelled, affecting flights to Beijing, Shenzhen, and Urumqi. These Shanghai flight disruptions involved both narrowbody aircraft and widebody jets such as the Airbus A330 and Boeing 777-300ER.

Shanghai Pudong International Airport also saw two cancellations:

• A domestic flight to Chengdu Tianfu
• A Boeing 777 freighter service to Amsterdam

This combination extended disruption into international cargo operations.

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport: Westbound Pressure Continues

Seven cancellations were recorded at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. These Guangzhou airport cancellations primarily affected Urumqi-bound flights, along with services to Wuxi, Beijing, and Hangzhou.

Key takeaways:

• Boeing 737 and 737 MAX aircraft featured prominently
• Multiple cancellations occurred on the same operating days
• Long domestic sectors saw reduced reliability

Beijing Capital International Airport: The Broadest Impact

Beijing Capital International Airport experienced the largest number of cancellations, with eighteen departures pulled between Sunday and Tuesday. These Beijing Capital Airport cancellations affected flights to Dazhou, Shanghai Hongqiao, Lanzhou, Fuzhou, Riyadh, Chengdu Tianfu, Zhongwei, Urumqi, Nanjing, Yantai, and Hangzhou.

Operational scope:

• Aircraft included Airbus A320, A330, A321neo, and Boeing 737
• Both domestic and international services were disrupted
• High-frequency trunk routes were not immune

Summary Table of All Recorded Cancellations

Impact on Passengers and the Wider Network

For passengers, this wave of China flight cancellations translates into reduced schedule reliability, missed connections, and limited rebooking options, especially on westbound routes. For airlines, the repeated involvement of multiple hubs and aircraft types suggests complex operational adjustments rather than short-lived or localized disruptions. As schedules continue to shift, the persistence of China flight cancellations will remain a key factor shaping near-term travel planning across the country.