Flight Cancellations across Heilongjiang and Xinjiang Creates Travel Disruption in China as Chengdu Airlines Grounds over a Dozen Flights, New Update

Published on November 30, 2025

Air travel in China faces a sudden disruption starting on 29th and continuing on 30th November, 2025. Chengdu Airlines, a major regional carrier, experienced significant operational trouble. Specifically, the carrier was forced to ground over a dozen flights. This instability caused severe travel delays, impacting two vast regions: Heilongjiang and Xinjiang. In total, 12 cancellations and 78 delays were recorded. Hundreds of passengers faced sudden changes to their travel plans. These operational setbacks underscore the difficulties in maintaining smooth air travel across China’s immense domestic network. We will now examine the full scope of the flights affected and the impact on these remote provinces.

A Breakdown of the Affected Flights

The disruption was concentrated across twelve scheduled services, which were to be operated over a two-day period.

The services impacted traverse critical domestic air corridors. Notably, multiple flights connecting to and from Harbin Taiping International Airport were affected. This included the double-stop route, UEA2748, linking Heihe, Yichun Lindu and Harbin. In the far western Xinjiang Autonomous Region, regional connectivity was severely curtailed, with a strong focus on routes originating from the hub of Urumqi Diwopu International Airport to cities like Karamay and Kanas. The operational challenges faced by Chengdu Airlines directly affect travel reliability in these regions of China.

Delays

The overall count of operational issues was dominated by delays. With 78 total delays recorded, the impact extended far beyond the outright cancellations. This high number of delays, which constituted 23% of the airline’s observed operational schedule, indicates a systemic strain on the airline’s capacity to maintain punctuality.

Affected Airports

Probable Impact on Local Tourism

The concentration of flight cancellations and delays in Xinjiang and Heilongjiang might impose a considerable strain on local tourism. Both provinces rely heavily on air travel to facilitate the movement of visitors to their geographically dispersed cultural and scenic sites.

In Xinjiang, which is home to vast deserts and historical landmarks, the disruption of regional air links is especially problematic, as alternative ground transport options can be prohibitively long. The cancellations of flights by Chengdu Airlines connecting the capital, Ürümqi, to tourist gateways like Kanas significantly hinders visitor access. Similarly, in Heilongjiang, which includes the popular winter destination of Harbin, the instability of air service negatively impacts the flow of domestic tourists. The loss of service reliability directly affects local businesses, including hotels, tour operators and related sectors that depend on the consistent movement of visitors.

What Affected Passengers Can Do Now

Passengers whose journeys have been disrupted by the cancellations and extensive delays are strongly advised to contact Chengdu Airlines‘ customer service channels immediately. For services that were outright cancelled, passengers should be offered a full refund or re-routing on the next available flight. It is essential that affected travellers request a Delay or Cancellation Certificate from the airline. This documentation is crucial for processing travel insurance claims or lodging formal complaints related to the substantial travel disruption experienced. The situation demands patience and proactive engagement with the airline to secure alternative arrangements.

-The information provided is sourced from FlightAware.