Hundreds of Travelers Disrupted Around Asia As 136 Flights were Cancelled and 4,153 Delayed at Tokyo, Ho Chi Minh City and More Airports

136 flights were canceled and 4,153 were delayed at key airports throughout Asia, including Tokyo, Ho Chi Minh City, and other airports under operational pressure, disrupting hundreds of travelers. Passengers at major aviation hubs were impacted by the extensive disruption because of schedule congestion, problems with aircraft rotation, and difficulties with airport operations. Airlines in the Middle East, China, Japan, India, and Southeast Asia also encountered delays that made travel more difficult. Travelers consequently had to deal with altered departure times, lost connections, and canceled trips. As airports and airlines handle growing passenger demand and intricate flight operations, the disruption underscores the difficulties facing Asia’s congested aviation network.

India And China Lead Asia’s Airport Disruption Pressure

India recorded some of the highest disruption levels among Asian aviation markets, with Delhi emerging as the most affected airport from the provided data.

Indira Gandhi International Airport recorded 596 delays and 5 cancellations, making it the airport with the highest number of delayed flights. The disruption at Delhi created pressure for domestic and international travellers using one of Asia’s busiest passenger hubs.

Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport also faced considerable disruption, with 203 delays and 2 cancellations. Bengaluru International Airport recorded 92 delays and 2 cancellations, while Pune Lohegaon Airport reported 42 delays and 3 cancellations.

Indian airlines were also heavily affected. IndiGo recorded 449 delayed flights, representing 22% of its operations, along with 4 cancellations. Air India Express reported 121 delays with a 26% delay rate and 1 cancellation, while Akasa Air recorded 31 delays at a 17% delay rate and 4 cancellations. SpiceJet recorded 37 delays with a 58% delay rate and 7 cancellations.

China’s aviation sector also experienced major operational disruption. Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport recorded 406 delays and 1 cancellation, making it the second-most affected airport by delay numbers.

Other Chinese airports also faced high disruption levels. Beijing Capital International Airport recorded 174 delays and 2 cancellations, Shanghai Pudong International Airport reported 144 delays and 2 cancellations, Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport recorded 102 delays and 3 cancellations, Chengdu Tianfu International Airport reported 63 delays and 5 cancellations, and Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport recorded 71 delays and 3 cancellations.

Chinese airlines reported significant schedule pressure. China Southern Airlines recorded 267 delays with an 11% delay rate and 2 cancellations. China Eastern reported 207 delays at an 8% delay rate and 8 cancellations, while Air China recorded 158 delays with an 8% delay rate and 5 cancellations.

Southeast Asia Airports Face Widespread Flight Disruptions

Southeast Asian aviation networks also experienced substantial disruption, affecting major tourism and business travel gateways.

Indonesia recorded some of the highest cancellation figures. Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport reported 193 delays and 20 cancellations, the highest cancellation count among all airports provided.

Indonesian carriers were also impacted. Batik Air recorded 57 delays with a 17% delay rate and 16 cancellations, while Citilink reported 17 delays and 6 cancellations. Garuda Indonesia recorded 19 delays and 1 cancellation.

Vietnam also experienced operational pressure. Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City recorded 197 delays and 1 cancellation, while Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi recorded 150 delays and 1 cancellation.

Vietnam Airlines recorded 98 delays with a 25% delay rate and 1 cancellation, showing the impact on one of the country’s major international carriers.

Malaysia’s aviation network also faced disruption. Kuala Lumpur International Airport recorded 211 delays and 2 cancellations, while AirAsia reported 64 delays at a 13% delay rate and 2 cancellations. Malindo Air recorded 59 delays with a 42% delay rate, and Malaysia Airlines recorded 42 delays and 1 cancellation.

Japan, South Korea And Regional Hubs Experience Schedule Pressure

East Asian aviation hubs also recorded significant disruption.

Tokyo Haneda International Airport reported 210 delays and 1 cancellation, highlighting pressure at one of Japan’s busiest airports. Japan Airlines recorded 106 delays at a 13% delay rate and 1 cancellation, while Hokkaido Air System recorded 2 cancellations with no reported delays.

South Korea’s Incheon International Airport recorded 114 delays and 3 cancellations, affecting passengers travelling through one of Asia’s largest international transit hubs.

Hong Kong International Airport recorded 149 delays and 1 cancellation, while Manila International Airport in the Philippines reported 128 delays and 2 cancellations.

Middle Eastern Airports And Airlines Also Face Operational Disruptions

The disruption extended beyond East and Southeast Asia, with several Middle Eastern aviation hubs and airlines also reporting delays and cancellations. Dubai International Airport recorded 167 delays and 2 cancellations, while Saudi Arabia’s major airports also faced operational pressure.

King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah reported 84 delays and 10 cancellations, making it one of the most affected airports in the region by cancellation numbers. King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh recorded 70 delays and 9 cancellations, while Abha Regional Airport reported 18 delays and 6 cancellations. Smaller Saudi airports including Gizan Regional Airport and Najran Domestic Airport recorded no delays but reported 4 cancellations each.

Among airlines, Saudia recorded 47 delays with an 8% delay rate and 18 cancellations, representing the highest cancellation figure among the listed carriers. The disruption across Middle Eastern hubs added further pressure to regional connections linking Asia with the Gulf, particularly on routes connecting India, Southeast Asia and East Asia with major Gulf transit centres.

Airports And Airlines Affected Across Asia Show Network-Wide Impact

The disruption was not limited to one country or one airline group. Instead, the data indicates a broad regional impact involving major aviation markets.

Among airports, the highest delays were recorded at Delhi with 596 delays, followed by Shenzhen with 406 delays, Kuala Lumpur with 211 delays, Tokyo Haneda with 210 delays, Mumbai with 203 delays, Jakarta with 193 delays, and Tan Son Nhat with 197 delays.

Among airlines, IndiGo experienced the highest number of delayed flights with 449 delays, followed by China Southern Airlines with 267 delays, China Eastern with 207 delays, Air China with 158 delays, and Air India Express with 121 delays.

The highest cancellation numbers were recorded by Saudia with 18 cancellations, Batik Air with 16 cancellations, China Eastern with 8 cancellations, SpiceJet with 7 cancellations, and Citilink with 6 cancellations.

Why Asia’s Flight Operations Faced Heavy Disruptions

The provided data points towards widespread operational pressure across Asia rather than a single isolated disruption.

Major international airports operate with tightly connected schedules. When flights arrive late, aircraft rotations can be delayed, causing subsequent departures to move behind schedule. Crew availability, aircraft positioning and connecting passenger movements can further increase delays.

Large aviation hubs such as Delhi, Shenzhen, Tokyo Haneda, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta handle high volumes of domestic and international traffic. Even limited operational challenges can create a chain reaction throughout airline networks.

Weather-related disruptions, airport congestion and schedule recovery challenges are among the common factors that can contribute to large-scale delays across Asian aviation markets.

What Affected Passengers Should Do Now

• Passengers travelling through affected Asian airports should monitor their flight status before leaving for the airport.
• Airline websites, mobile applications and official airport channels should be checked regularly because departure times can change quickly during disruption periods.
• Travellers departing from heavily affected airports, including Delhi, Shenzhen, Jakarta, Mumbai and Kuala Lumpur, should arrive earlier than usual to allow additional time for check-in, security procedures and possible gate changes.
• Passengers facing cancellations should contact airlines immediately to request available options, including rebooking, alternative routes or refunds where applicable. Keeping booking confirmations, boarding passes and airline communication records can help speed up assistance.
• Travellers with connecting flights should also review their onward journeys carefully, as delays on the first sector may affect later flights.

Data Verification Notice

The data has been extensively curated by our editorial team using real-time aviation figures recorded on 13 September 2026 at 2:20 pm ET USA (14 September 2026, 2:22 am China Time (GMT+8)).
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.

Stay updated with Asia flight cancellations and travel disruptions through our daily aviation coverage, tracking flight changes, airport impacts and passenger experiences.

Verified by Paramita Sarkar