Hundreds of Travelers Impacted Throughout Asia as 177 Cancelled and 3,487 Delayed Flights at Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi and More Airports

3,487 delayed and 177 cancelled flights disrupted operations at major airports, including Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi, and other aviation hubs, affecting hundreds of travelers around Asia. Weather, network delays affecting airline timetables, high air traffic demand, and operational difficulties all contributed to the widespread disruption. Additionally, when delays at important international gateways had broader effects on regional routes, connecting planes faced more strain. Many travelers had extended wait times, changed flight schedules, and modified travel plans as a result. Travelers were advised to verify updated flight information prior to departure as airlines and airport officials continued to manage the situation.

Major Airports in Asia Face Heavy Delays as Regional Networks Experience Pressure

The disruption pattern was spread across multiple Asian aviation centres, with some of the busiest airports recording the highest number of delayed flights.

Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi recorded 280 delays and 7 cancellations, making it one of the most affected airports in the region. The airport’s disruption also influenced airline operations, particularly for carriers operating large domestic and international networks.

Shanghai Pudong International Airport reported 270 delays and 6 cancellations, while Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport recorded 83 delays and 5 cancellations. Together, the two Shanghai airports experienced notable pressure within China’s aviation system.

In Japan, Tokyo Haneda Airport registered 209 delays and 7 cancellations, affecting both domestic and international connections. Japan’s major carriers also recorded operational impacts, with ANA Wings reporting 71 delays and 5 cancellations, while All Nippon recorded 115 delays and 2 cancellations.

Southeast Asian aviation hubs were also affected. Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport recorded 220 delays and 24 cancellations, representing one of the highest cancellation figures among affected airports. Meanwhile, Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Vietnam recorded 181 delays and 3 cancellations.

Other important regional airports also experienced disruption:

• Kuala Lumpur International Airport recorded 177 delays and 4 cancellations.
• Hong Kong International Airport recorded 126 delays and 2 cancellations.
• Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport recorded 93 delays and 11 cancellations.
• Chengdu Tianfu International Airport recorded 62 delays and 3 cancellations.
• Beijing Capital International Airport recorded 81 delays and 11 cancellations.

The spread of delays across major hubs highlights how interconnected Asian aviation networks can quickly transmit operational challenges between countries and airlines.

China, India, Indonesia and Japan Airlines Among Most Affected Carriers

Airline operations across Asia showed significant variation, with several carriers reporting elevated delay percentages and cancellations.

China Eastern recorded the highest cancellation count among listed airlines, with 18 cancelled flights and 215 delayed flights, representing a 9% delay rate. Air China followed with 10 cancellations and 107 delays, while China Southern Airlines reported 4 cancellations and 91 delays, with a 4% delay rate.

Indonesia-based airlines also faced notable disruption. Batik Air recorded 15 cancellations and 55 delays, with a 4% cancellation rate and 18% delay rate. Citilink reported 8 cancellations and 45 delays, while Garuda Indonesia recorded 3 cancellations and 32 delays. TransNusa reported 1 cancellation and 11 delays.

Indian carriers experienced operational pressure. SpiceJet recorded 9 cancellations and 29 delays, with a 13% cancellation rate and 42% delay rate, one of the highest delay percentages among listed airlines. Akasa Air recorded 4 cancellations and 12 delays, with a 7% delay rate.

Saudi Arabian airlines were also impacted. Saudia recorded 6 cancellations and 221 delays, with a 41% delay rate, while Flynas reported 2 cancellations and 119 delays, representing a 37% delay rate.

Other international carriers affected included:

• Turkish Airlines: 2 cancellations and 143 delays with an 8% delay rate.
• VietJet Air: 1 cancellation and 159 delays with a 38% delay rate.
• Vietnam Airlines: 2 cancellations and 72 delays with a 19% delay rate.
• Qatar Airways: 2 cancellations and 69 delays with an 11% delay rate.
• FlyDubai: 4 cancellations and 40 delays with a 13% delay rate.
• Air Arabia: 3 cancellations and 41 delays with a 17% delay rate.

Countries and Cities Across Asia Experience Wider Travel Impact

The disruption affected a broad range of countries, with China accounting for a large share of impacted airlines and airports. Major Chinese cities including Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Chongqing and Nanjing experienced delays and cancellations across multiple carriers.

India also saw significant passenger impact, particularly through Delhi and Kochi airports. Delhi recorded 280 delays and 7 cancellations, while Cochin International Airport recorded 24 delays and 2 cancellations.

Indonesia experienced disruption across several airports, including Jakarta, Makassar and Balikpapan. Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta airport recorded the highest cancellation number among airports listed, with 24 cancellations and 220 delays.

Japan’s aviation network faced pressure through Tokyo Haneda and other regional operations, while Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan and Hong Kong also reported airline schedule disruptions.

The Gulf region-linked routes also experienced challenges, with airports in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain showing delays. These hubs play an important role in connecting Asian travellers with Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

What Affected Passengers Can Do Now

Passengers travelling through affected airports across Asia should take several steps to manage possible disruptions.

Travellers should first check their latest flight status directly with airlines and airport websites before leaving for the airport. Flight schedules can change quickly when aircraft rotations, connecting flights or airport operations are affected.

Passengers with connecting flights should allow additional transfer time, especially when travelling through heavily affected hubs such as Delhi, Shanghai Pudong, Tokyo Haneda, Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta and Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Travellers should also:

• Keep airline notifications active through mobile apps or registered email addresses.
• Arrive early at airports experiencing high delay volumes.
• Confirm baggage arrangements if flights are rescheduled.
• Contact airlines directly regarding rebooking options after cancellations.
• Keep essential documents, medication and valuables in carry-on luggage.

With 3,487 delays and 177 cancellations recorded across the affected network, passengers are advised to remain updated and plan additional time when travelling through major Asian aviation hubs. The disruption data shows that delays are not limited to one country or airline but reflect wider pressure across interconnected regional flight operations.

Data Verification Notice

The data has been extensively curated by our editorial team using real-time aviation figures recorded on 19 September 2026 at 3:22 pm ET USA (19 September 2026, 11:22 pm 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.

Yesterday, major airports across Asia recorded 241 cancellations and 4,331 delays disrupting travel for passengers and airlines. Click here to read the full report.