Flights Cancelled Across Asia as Beijing, Dubai, and 19 Other Major Airports Cancel 281 and Delay 3,375 Flights

Written By: Ryan Rashid

Ryan Rashid

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September 3, 2026 3:38 AM |

Image generated with Ai

Air travel across Asia faced disruptions today, with China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates facing 3,375 delays and 281 cancellations.
Airlines including China Eastern, Air China, Batik Air, and Saudia were among those affected as flight disruptions continued across major Asian aviation hubs.
Major airports including Hangzhou Xiaoshan, Dubai Intl, Shanghai Pudong, Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta, Guangzhou Baiyun, Beijing Capital, Chengdu Shuangliu, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, Kunming Changshui, King Abdulaziz Intl, and King Khalid Intl recorded heavy delays and cancellations.

Asia Flight Disruptions: Key Figures

• 3,375 flight delays were recorded across the airports.
• 281 flights were cancelled.
• Hangzhou Xiaoshan recorded the highest delay figure at 484.
• Dubai recorded 447 delays and six cancellations.
• Shanghai Pudong recorded 417 delays and 15 cancellations.
• China Eastern recorded 81 cancellations and 424 delays.
• Air China recorded 67 cancellations and 199 delays.
• Batik Air recorded 35 cancellations and 81 delays.
• Saudia recorded 21 cancellations and 62 delays.
• Chengdu Tianfu recorded 31 cancellations alongside 72 delays.

Asian Airports Facing the Highest Flight Delays

Hangzhou Xiaoshan

Hangzhou Xiaoshan recorded 484 delays and 12 cancellations, making it the busiest airport for delays among the locations reporting disruptions.

Dubai

Dubai recorded 447 delays and six cancellations. The airport also recorded 11 delays involving flights within, into, or out of the United States.

Shanghai Pudong

Shanghai Pudong reported 417 delays and 15 cancellations, including 10 delays involving flights within, into, or out of the United States.

Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta

Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta recorded 222 delays and 26 cancellations, placing the Indonesian hub among the airports with the highest disruption figures.

Guangzhou Baiyun

Guangzhou Baiyun recorded 209 delays and 12 cancellations.

Beijing Capital

Beijing Capital recorded 167 delays and 26 cancellations. Two of its delays involved the United States.

Shanghai Hongqiao

Shanghai Hongqiao recorded 165 delays and 11 cancellations, adding to the flight disruption affecting the Shanghai region.

Airlines Recording High Numbers of Flight Cancellations and Delays

China Eastern

China Eastern recorded 81 cancellations and 424 delays. Its cancellation rate was 2%, while its delay rate stood at 15%.

Air China

Air China recorded 67 cancellations and 199 delays. The airline’s cancellation rate was 3%, while its delay rate was 9%.

Batik Air

Batik Air recorded 35 cancellations and 81 delays. Its cancellation rate reached 10%, while its delay rate stood at 23%.

Saudia

Saudia recorded 21 cancellations and 62 delays, with a cancellation rate of 3% and a delay rate of 10%.

China Eastern and Air China See Major Delay Totals

Together, China Eastern and Air China recorded 623 delays and 148 cancellations. Their figures account for a substantial portion of the airline disruption reported across the region.

What Should Passengers Facing Flight Cancellations Do?

• Check the airline’s latest flight status before leaving for the airport.
• Contact the airline for available rebooking options.
• Confirm any new departure time before traveling.
• Keep booking confirmations and boarding passes accessible.
• Check whether connecting flights are affected by a schedule change.
• Ask the airline about applicable assistance or alternative travel arrangements.
• Allow additional time at the airport when traveling after a schedule change.

Why Are Flights Being Cancelled Across Asia?

Flight cancellations can result from several operational challenges affecting airlines and airports. Aircraft availability, crew scheduling, maintenance requirements, air traffic management, airport capacity, weather conditions and changes to operating schedules can all influence whether a flight departs on time.

Airlines may also adjust individual services when earlier delays affect aircraft rotations or crew availability. These changes can create further schedule adjustments later in the day.

Asia Flight Cancellations and Delays Affect Major Aviation Hubs

Flight disruptions in Asia are being recorded across major aviation centers in China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates.

In China, Hangzhou Xiaoshan recorded 484 delays, while Shanghai Pudong recorded 417. Guangzhou Baiyun had 209 delays, followed by Beijing Capital with 167 and Shanghai Hongqiao with 165. Xi’an Xianyang recorded 102 delays, while Beijing Daxing had 99.

Chengdu Shuangliu recorded 92 delays and 14 cancellations, while Chengdu Tianfu recorded 72 delays and 31 cancellations. Kunming Changshui had 103 delays and 17 cancellations, while Chongqing Jiangbei recorded 96 delays and 16 cancellations.

Outside China, Dubai recorded 447 delays and six cancellations. Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta recorded 222 delays and 26 cancellations, while King Abdulaziz in Jeddah recorded 128 delays and eight cancellations. King Khalid in Riyadh saw 122 delays and 13 cancellations.

Hong Kong recorded 130 delays and three cancellations, while Suvarnabhumi Bangkok recorded 149 delays and two cancellations. Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II in Palembang recorded 13 delays and eight cancellations.

Among airlines, China Eastern recorded 424 delays and 81 cancellations, while Air China had 199 delays and 67 cancellations. Batik Air recorded 81 delays and 35 cancellations, while Saudia had 62 delays and 21 cancellations.

With disruptions affecting Shanghai, Hangzhou, Beijing, Dubai, Jakarta, Jeddah, Riyadh, Hong Kong, and Bangkok, passengers traveling through major Asian hubs should check their flight status regularly and confirm any schedule changes before heading to the airport.

The data has been extensively curated by our editorial team using real-time aviation figures recorded on 2 September 2026 at 4:59 pm ET USA (3 September 2:29 am IST)

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.

Travellers are advised to check directly with their respective airlines and airports for the latest flight status, schedule changes and operational updates.

Image Source: Dubai Airports Media Library