Flights Cancelled Over Asia as Typhoon Saudel Triggers 9,718 Delays and 693 Cancellations Across Wenzhou and More Airports

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Typhoon Saudel has wreaked havoc with air travel across Asia. A total of 9,718 delays and 693 cancellations were recorded at major airports, with Wenzhou and other aviation hubs across China among the hardest hit. The storm is heading toward eastern China and airlines and passengers will face operational challenges from heavy rain, strong winds and rough seas across the region.
Also on the rise are flights canceled over Asia as Typhoon Saudel impacts aviation networks. The disruption has spread from Taiwan and Japan to China’s coastal provinces, where authorities are on alert for worsening weather. The storm’s effects underscore growing travel uncertainty as airports cope with changing schedules, safety measures and passenger disruptions amid severe weather.

China Leads Asia Airport Disruption With Thousands of Delays and Hundreds of Cancellations

China remains the most affected country in the provided disruption data, with its airports recording 7,444 delays and 593 cancellations. The impact has spread across major aviation centres, including Shanghai, Guangzhou, Beijing, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Hangzhou and other key Chinese cities.

Shanghai Pudong International Airport reported 622 delays and 51 cancellations, representing one of the largest disruption levels among major international gateways. Shanghai’s aviation network also faced additional pressure, with Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport recording 291 delays and 6 cancellations.

However, the highest cancellation impact was recorded at smaller coastal airports. Wenzhou International Airport reported 124 cancellations and 40 delays, while Ningbo Lishe International Airport recorded 100 cancellations and 96 delays. Both airports are located in Zhejiang Province, the same coastal region where Typhoon Saudel is expected to make landfall before weakening.

The disruption at Wenzhou and Ningbo highlights the vulnerability of eastern China’s regional aviation network during severe weather events. Strong winds, heavy rainfall and possible flooding risks can affect aircraft movement, airport ground operations and passenger connections.

Other major Chinese airports also experienced heavy disruption:

The disruption has affected major Chinese travel corridors connecting business centres, manufacturing hubs and tourism destinations. Coastal areas have faced additional risks as Typhoon Saudel approached eastern China after passing north of Taiwan. Authorities warned of heavy rainfall, strong winds and possible flooding in affected regions.

Japan Airports Face Major Delays as Tokyo and Regional Hubs Experience Pressure

Japan recorded 897 delays and 33 cancellations across the listed airports, with Tokyo and regional aviation centres experiencing significant disruption.

Tokyo Haneda International Airport reported 576 delays and 14 cancellations, making it the second-highest airport for delays across the entire dataset. Haneda’s disruption affected domestic and international passenger flows due to its position as one of Asia’s busiest aviation gateways.

Other Japanese airports affected include:

Typhoon Saudel’s movement across the region contributed to worsening weather conditions around parts of East Asia. In Taiwan, authorities warned of heavy rainfall, rough seas near the Matsu islands, flooding risks and strong winds as the storm moved towards China. These conditions increased the possibility of disruptions to regional aviation and maritime travel.

Indonesia, Middle East and Gulf Aviation Networks Also Experience Disruptions

Beyond East Asia, aviation operations in Southeast Asia and the Middle East also recorded notable disruption.

Indonesia reported 336 delays and 31 cancellations, with Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport experiencing the highest impact at 186 delays and 18 cancellations. Juanda International Airport recorded 93 delays and 6 cancellations, while Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport saw 57 delays and 7 cancellations.

In the Middle East, airports in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar were also affected.

The UAE recorded 614 delays and 9 cancellations, driven largely by disruption at Dubai International Airport, which reported 507 delays and 5 cancellations. Dubai remains one of the world’s busiest international aviation hubs, meaning operational delays can create wider effects across connecting routes.

Saudi Arabia recorded 285 delays and 26 cancellations, with:

• King Khalid International Airport: 151 delays and 9 cancellations
• King Abdulaziz International Airport: 119 delays and 5 cancellations

Qatar’s Hamad International Airport recorded 142 delays and 1 cancellation.

Airlines Across Asia Face Widespread Delays and Cancellations

The airport disruption has affected several major airlines operating across Asia.

Among Chinese carriers, China Eastern recorded the highest disruption with 672 delays and 121 cancellations, followed by:

Japanese airlines also experienced pressure. Japan Airlines recorded 329 delays and 9 cancellations, while All Nippon Airways (ANA) reported 206 delays and 4 cancellations.

Regional carriers including Batik Air Indonesia, Citilink, SpiceJet, IndiGo, Saudia, Air Arabia, FlyDubai and Turkish Airlines also recorded delays and cancellations.

The highest delay rates among listed airlines included:

• FlyDubai: 200 delays with a 59% delay rate
• Mandarin Airlines: 61 delays with a 56% delay rate
• Japan Air Commuter: 38 delays with a 50% delay rate
• Air Do Japan: 33 delays with a 50% delay rate
• SpiceJet India: 49 delays with a 49% delay rate

What Affected Passengers Should Do Now

• Travellers should confirm the latest departure status directly with their airline before travelling to the airport. Weather-related disruptions can change quickly, especially during typhoon conditions.
• Passengers connecting through major hubs such as Guangzhou, Shanghai, Tokyo Haneda, Shenzhen and Dubai should arrive earlier than usual due to possible check-in congestion, security delays and rescheduling pressure.
• Travellers affected by cancellations should contact airlines regarding available rebooking options, alternative routes or revised travel arrangements.
• Passengers travelling near coastal China, Taiwan, Japan and island destinations should continue monitoring weather warnings, particularly where heavy rain, strong winds and rough seas may affect transport services.

Data Verification Notice

The data has been extensively curated by our editorial team using real-time aviation figures recorded on 27 August 2026 at 4:09 pm ET USA (28 August 2026, 12:09 am 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.

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