Hundreds of Travelers Affected across Asia as 4,504 Delays and 278 Cancellations Hit Major Airports Including Osaka, Chengdu and More

Written By: Indranil Mukherjee

Indranil Mukherjee

I am an SEO content writer with over two years of experience in digital publishing. I hold a Master's degree in English, and since completing my studies, I have been working with Travel And Tour World. I am passionate about creating engaging, well-researched content that informs and connects with readers. I have a keen interest in exploring the social and economic forces that shape the world, with a particular focus on literature, travel, and global developments. Through my work, I strive to deliver insightful, accurate, and SEO-friendly content that helps readers stay informed about the latest trends and stories from the travel industry.

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September 5, 2026 1:37 AM

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Major airports, including Osaka, Chengdu, and other important aviation hubs, saw 4,504 delays and 278 cancellations, disrupting hundreds of travelers around Asia. A combination of operational difficulties, unfavorable weather, problems with aircraft rotation, and rising air traffic pressure caused the extensive disruption that affected passengers. Significant schedule disruptions also occurred at key airports in China, India, Japan, Indonesia, and Southeast Asia, requiring airlines to modify services and control passenger flow. Travelers with both domestic and international connections experienced uncertainty as a result of the delays and cancelations. Affected travelers are urged to check flight information and get ready for any changes to their travel schedules as airlines continue their recovery efforts.

China Aviation Network Faces Widespread Pressure Across Major Cities in Asia

China experienced extensive disruption across several major aviation hubs, with delays reported at airports serving Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Chongqing, Xiamen, Wuhan and other cities.

Shanghai Pudong International Airport recorded 363 delays and 13 cancellations, making it one of the most affected airports in Asia. Nearby Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport recorded 185 delays and seven cancellations.

Other major Chinese airports affected included:

Chinese airlines were heavily affected. China Eastern recorded 399 delays and 30 cancellations, the highest cancellation figure among airlines in the provided data. Air China recorded 158 delays and 22 cancellations, while Shenzhen Airlines reported 129 delays and 11 cancellations.

Southern and eastern China’s aviation network has faced repeated pressure from weather-related disruptions, particularly when heavy rainfall and storms reduce airport operating capacity.

India Becomes One of the Most Affected Markets as Delhi and Mumbai Report Heavy Disruptions

India recorded some of the highest airport delay figures in the region, with Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi reporting 494 delays and 13 cancellations, the highest delay volume among all airports in the provided data.

Delhi’s disruption affected one of India’s busiest aviation corridors, impacting domestic connections and international services. Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport recorded 357 delays and five cancellations, while Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata reported 60 delays and four cancellations.

The disruption created pressure on India’s largest carriers. IndiGo recorded 485 delays and five cancellations, making it the airline with the highest number of delayed flights in the airline disruption data. Air India recorded 244 delays and seven cancellations, while SpiceJet recorded 43 delays and four cancellations.

Heavy rainfall and waterlogging affected Delhi airport operations today, with airlines advising passengers to check flight status before travelling and allow additional time for airport transfers.

Southeast Asia Sees Disruptions at Indonesia, Thailand and Regional Airports

Indonesia experienced significant disruption across several important travel gateways.

Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport recorded 205 delays and 25 cancellations, the highest cancellation figure among all airports listed. Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali reported 96 delays and three cancellations, while Juanda International Airport recorded 63 delays and three cancellations.

Airlines operating in Indonesia also faced operational challenges. Batik Air recorded 96 delays and 26 cancellations, while Lion Air reported 72 delays and one cancellation.

Thailand’s main international gateway, Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, reported 147 delays and four cancellations, affecting regional and international passenger connections.

The disruption comes as Southeast Asian aviation continues managing high passenger demand, seasonal weather challenges and busy international flight schedules.

Japan and South Korea Experience Pressure at Key Passenger Hubs

Japan recorded disruption across multiple airports, affecting both domestic and international operations.

Osaka International Airport (Itami) reported 92 delays and 15 cancellations, while Kagoshima Airport recorded 39 delays and 13 cancellations. Other affected Japanese airports included:

• Miyazaki Airport: 23 delays and eight cancellations
• Matsuyama Airport: 15 delays and three cancellations

Major Japanese carrier Japan Airlines recorded 155 delays and four cancellations.

South Korea’s Jeju International Airport reported 256 delays and two cancellations, affecting one of the country’s busiest tourism routes.

South Korean airlines also faced operational challenges, with Jeju Air reporting 63 delays and one cancellation and Asiana Airlines recording 62 delays and one cancellation.

Percentage of Flight cancellations across Different Airports in Asia

The figures show that the largest disruption impact was concentrated among airlines operating large domestic networks. When aircraft arrive late at one airport, the same aircraft may be unable to operate its next scheduled service on time, creating a chain reaction throughout the day.

Airline Impact across Asia: China Eastern, IndiGo, Air India and Batik Air Among Most Affected

The airline disruption data highlights that both full-service and low-cost carriers experienced significant operational pressure.

What Affected Passengers in Asia Should Do Now

Passengers travelling through affected airports in should take immediate steps to reduce the impact of delays or cancellations:

Check Flight Status Before Leaving for the Airport

Travellers should confirm their latest departure time directly with their airline or airport website before beginning their journey. Delays can change quickly as airlines adjust aircraft schedules.

Allow Extra Time for Airport Transfers

Passengers travelling through Delhi, Mumbai, Shanghai, Jakarta, Bangkok and other busy hubs should allow additional time for check-in, security screening and possible terminal congestion.

Contact Airlines for Rebooking Options

Passengers affected by cancellations should contact airlines through official customer service channels. Airlines may provide alternative flights, rebooking options or travel credit depending on individual ticket conditions.

Keep Important Travel Documents Ready

Travellers should keep passports, boarding passes, insurance documents and booking confirmations easily accessible, especially when connecting through multiple airports.

Avoid Tight Connections During Ongoing Disruptions

Passengers with connecting flights should consider longer connection times where possible, as delayed inbound aircraft can affect onward journeys.

Data Verification Notice

The data has been extensively curated by our editorial team using real-time aviation figures recorded on 4 September 2026 at 2:17 pm ET USA (5 September 2026, 2:18 am, China Standard 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.

We publish daily updates on regional flight cancellations and travel disruptions in Asia on our website. Click here to read our previous coverage and stay informed about the latest aviation developments.