Asia in Turmoil: Over 90 Flights Canceled and 1,241 Delayed, Stranding Thousands of Travelers Across Major Hubs Like Singapore, Shanghai, Tokyo, Bali, Kuala Lumpur, and More Amid Global Airline Chaos Including Vueling, China Eastern, Garuda, and Others

Published on November 28, 2025

In the latest wave of airline disruption, the skies have grown turbulent: 90 flights were cancelled and a staggering 1,241 flights delayed across a roster of major carriers worldwide — from Air China and China Eastern Airlines to European budget names like Vueling Airlines.

Here’s how the breakdown looks:

What’s Behind the Disruptions?

According to aviation analysts and official aviation authorities, delays and cancellations rarely stem from a single cause. The broad categories used by regulators such as the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) to classify delay causes are:

• Airline‑controlled factors (crew issues, maintenance, fueling, turnaround delays)
• Weather or extreme meteorological events
• National air traffic system issues (e.g. airport congestion, air traffic control bottlenecks)
• Late‑arriving aircraft due to prior delays
• Security‑related complications.

Studies have shown that weather and national aviation‑system bottlenecks often dominate delays — with weather responsible for nearly three‑quarters of system‑impacting delays over recent years.

In this latest disruption, it appears a mix of airline‑operational pressures, increased air traffic demand, and possibly capacity constraints are at play — stretched across carriers and geographies.

Vueling Airlines Cancelled Flights:

What This Means for Travellers

For passengers, the consequences are more than just numbers. Many found themselves stranded, missing important events or connections, or paying extra for hotels and transport after last‑minute cancellations.

Under current regulations — like those outlined by the U.S. U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and international guidelines by International Air Transport Association (IATA) — compensation or assistance depends heavily on the cause of disruption. If the delay or cancellation stems from factors within the airline’s control (e.g. maintenance, crew, scheduling), passengers may be entitled to refunds or rebooking. But if the issue arises from weather or broader air‑traffic control constraints, support varies and often is limited.

Experts recommend always reaching out to the airline as soon as disruption occurs — and when possible, opting for early‑morning flights to reduce exposure to cascading delays later in the day.

Chengdu Airlines Cancelled Flights:

Airlines Under Pressure — And What Needs To Change

The scale of the recent disruption underscores structural issues within the global aviation system: tight scheduling, capacity overload at key hubs, and fragile resilience when multiple carriers across regions are affected simultaneously.

One recent academic analysis found that airlines under hub‑and‑spoke network models tend to underinvest in operational resilience — leaving them vulnerable when unexpected shocks hit the system.

As demand surges, especially during peak travel seasons, the industry may need to rethink such models — perhaps shifting toward more flexible scheduling, staggered flight times, or larger buffer margins.

What Travelers Should Do (Now)

1. Check flight status early and often — Airlines often update schedules hours before departure.
2. Request refund or rerouting if eligible — Especially if disruption is “within airline control.”
3. Build contingency time — Early flights reduce cascading delay risk; avoid tight connections.
4. Know your rights — Domestic rules (like in the U.S.) may differ from international or EU regulations (e.g. Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 in Europe).

People Behind the Numbers

For many travelers, the disruptions have meant more than a delayed itinerary — missed family reunions, lost business opportunities, and unexpected expenses. The human cost echoes in weary faces at crowded airports, in frustrated social‑media posts, and in travelers’ tales of scrambling mid‑journey.

Whether from Asia to Europe or between small regional airports, these events serve a stark reminder: air travel is not immune to systemic stress. For the aviation industry — and regulators — it’s a moment to reflect, re‑evaluate, and rebuild resilience for passengers who expect reliability.

Source:Flightaware