Flights Cancelled Throughout Asia As Dubai, Jeddah, and 24 Others Cancel 736 And Delay 3,448, Disrupting Travel Across The Continent

Flight cancellations further surged across Asia today as 736 cancellations and 3,448 delays were reported, affecting Türkiye, India, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, China, Nepal, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Istanbul, Delhi, Jakarta, Dubai, Jeddah and Riyadh were among the cities experiencing flight disruptions.
Saudia recorded 170 cancellations, representing 31%, and 110 delays, or 20%. Turkish Airlines reported 561 delays, accounting for 36%, while IndiGo recorded 385 delays, or 17%. China Eastern registered 273 delays, representing 12%, and Akasa Air reported 29 cancellations and 38 delays.
Security concerns involving Saudi aviation infrastructure have added uncertainty to regional air travel. Reports of Houthi attacks and threats against Saudi airports have raised concerns about flight safety.

Asian Airports Experiencing the Highest Flight Disruptions

Istanbul, Türkiye

Istanbul Airport recorded 620 delays and 39 cancellations. For departing flights, the cancellation rate was 2% and the delay rate was 48%. For arriving flights, the cancellation rate was 2% and the delay rate was 36%. The airport also recorded 14 US-related delays.

Delhi, India

Indira Gandhi Airport recorded 343 delays and nine cancellations in the airport totals. For departing flights, cancellations stood at 0% and delays at 21%. For arriving flights, cancellations were 0% and delays reached 26%. Delhi remains an important connecting point for domestic and international journeys.

Jakarta, Indonesia

Soekarno-Hatta Airport registered 260 delays and 42 cancellations. The departure cancellation rate was 4%, with a delay rate of 21%. For arrivals, cancellations stood at 2% and delays at 21%.

Antalya, Türkiye

Antalya Airport recorded 211 delays and nine cancellations. Departing flights had a cancellation rate of 1% and a delay rate of 21%. Arriving flights recorded a cancellation rate of 1% and a delay rate of 33%.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Dubai Airport reported 197 delays and 31 cancellations. The departure cancellation rate was 2%, while the delay rate reached 15%. For arriving flights, cancellations stood at 3% and delays reached 21%.

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

King Abdulaziz Airport recorded 196 delays and 100 cancellations. Departing flights had an 11% cancellation rate and a 24% delay rate. Arriving flights recorded a 13% cancellation rate and a 25% delay rate.

Mumbai, India

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Airport reported 170 delays and 22 cancellations. Departing flights recorded a 2% cancellation rate and a 19% delay rate. Arriving flights had a 2% cancellation rate and a 17% delay rate.

Kathmandu, Nepal

Tribhuvan Airport recorded 161 delays and 13 cancellations. Departing flights had a 6% cancellation rate and a 47% delay rate. Arriving flights recorded a 7% cancellation rate and a 5% delay rate.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

King Khaled Airport registered 11 delays and 227 cancellations. Departing flights had a 29% cancellation rate and a 0% delay rate. Arriving flights recorded a 32% cancellation rate and a 2% delay rate.

Doha, Qatar

Hamad Airport recorded 101 delays and 21 cancellations. Departing flights had a 2% cancellation rate and a 13% delay rate. Arriving flights recorded a 4% cancellation rate and a 15% delay rate.

Bengaluru, India

Kempegowda Airport recorded 80 delays and 12 cancellations. Departing flights had a 1% cancellation rate and an 8% delay rate. Arriving flights recorded a 1% cancellation rate and a 12% delay rate.

Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Sharjah Airport recorded 55 delays and 10 cancellations. Departing flights had a 3% cancellation rate and an 11% delay rate. Arriving flights recorded a 2% cancellation rate and a 22% delay rate.

Airlines Recording High Cancellation and Delay Rates

Saudia

Saudia recorded 170 cancellations, or 31%, and 110 delays, or 20%. Its cancellation count was the highest among the airlines covered.

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines reported 33 cancellations, or 2%, and 561 delays, or 36%. Its delay count was the highest among the airlines covered.

IndiGo

IndiGo recorded 34 cancellations, or 1%, and 385 delays, or 17%. The airline was also among the Indian carriers reported to have suspended flights to Saudi Arabia until October 17, 2026.

China Eastern

China Eastern registered 35 cancellations, or 1%, and 273 delays, or 12%. Its delay count was among the highest in the airline rankings.

Air China

Air China reported 38 cancellations, or 2%, and 93 delays, or 5%.

Akasa Air

Akasa Air recorded 29 cancellations, or 11%, and 38 delays, or 15%. The carrier was also named among the airlines reported to have suspended services to Saudi Arabia.

Batik Air

Batik Air recorded 28 cancellations, or 9%, and 62 delays, or 20%.

Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways reported 19 cancellations, or 3%, and 89 delays, or 14%.

Riyadh Air

Riyadh Air recorded 19 cancellations, representing 61%, and no delays. Its cancellation rate was the highest among the airlines covered.

Shree Airlines

Shree Airlines reported 13 cancellations, or 26%, and 22 delays, or 44%. Its delay rate was the highest among the airlines covered.

Advice for Passengers Facing Cancelled Flights

• Check flight status through the airline’s official website or mobile app.
• Contact the airline to ask about rebooking, refunds or alternative flights.
• Confirm the status of connecting flights and onward travel arrangements.
• Keep booking confirmations, boarding passes and cancellation notifications.
• Check airport access and departure information before leaving for the terminal.
• Follow official airline and airport announcements for schedule changes.
• Review travel insurance terms and retain receipts for eligible expenses.

Reasons Behind Flight Cancellations Across Asia

Flight cancellations across Asia can result from operational restrictions, weather conditions, aircraft availability, crew scheduling, technical inspections and security concerns. In Saudi Arabia, Houthi attacks on airport infrastructure and threats against airports have raised concerns about aviation safety.

IndiGo, Akasa Air and Air India were reported to have suspended flights to Saudi Arabia until October 17, 2026. Such suspensions can affect passengers travelling between Indian cities and Saudi destinations, including Riyadh and Jeddah.

Presently, the cancellation and delay rates also differ between departures and arrivals. At King Khaled Airport in Riyadh, the departure cancellation rate was 29%, compared with 32% for arrivals. At King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah, the corresponding cancellation rates were 11% and 13%. These differences reflect the separate operational conditions affecting flights leaving and arriving at each airport; the available figures do not establish a specific cause for every disrupted flight.

Outlook for Asian Air Travel and Passenger Connections

The latest airport totals show varying disruption across Asia, with Istanbul recording the highest number of delays and Riyadh reporting the highest cancellation count among the airports covered. Delhi and Mumbai also recorded notable delays, while Jakarta and Dubai experienced both delays and cancellations.

Saudia, Turkish Airlines, IndiGo, China Eastern, Air China and Akasa Air featured among the airlines with notable disruption counts. Passengers travelling through Istanbul, Delhi, Jakarta and Dubai should check flight status before departing for the airport and confirm connecting arrangements.

Saudi Arabia remains a key focus because of the reported security concerns and temporary service suspensions. Travellers booked on flights to Riyadh or Jeddah should contact their airlines for the latest operational information and available alternatives.

Significant flight cancellations were also recorded across Asia yesterday. Read our previous coverage here.

The information presented in this report was collected and reviewed using real-time records from October 14, 2026, at 2:15 pm ET (11:44 pm IST).

Primary source: FlightAware.

Verification Process: The editorial team reviewed the figures through cross-checking. Timestamped records, flight-tracking logs and data-feed snapshots have been preserved to support accuracy and editorial transparency.

Note: Flight-tracking figures can fluctuate as airspace conditions and airline operations change. Small variations may occur when comparing these figures with updates published by individual airports or airlines.

Passengers are advised to verify their flight status, monitor schedule changes and consult the latest operational information provided by their respective airlines before departure.