Qatar, Emirates, Delta, China Eastern, EVA, All Nippon, Korean Air and More Caught in Typhoon Wipha Travel Chaos With Over 2000 Flights Delayed or Cancelled Across Hong Kong, Vietnam, and China

Published on July 21, 2025

Qatar, Emirates, Delta, China Eastern, EVA, All Nippon, Korean Air and More Caught in Typhoon Wipha Travel Chaos With Over 2000 Flights Delayed or Cancelled Across Hong Kong, Vietnam, and China due to the massive impact of Typhoon Wipha. This storm was so big it swept through Asia’s busiest and most important aviation areas as well as major international airports-throwing operations there just completely out of order. Airlines were forced to ground flights on safety grounds due to very dangerous weather conditions, mainly high winds alleged in some quarters of the media as the cause for aircraft accidents. This meant a chain of delays and cancellations hit air passengers on multiple carriers, leaving thousands stranded and seriously upsetting airline schedules but only for the region.

Typhoon Wipha, a powerful tropical storm sweeping across East and Southeast Asia, has caused massive travel disruptions, grounding over 2,000 flights across major international hubs. Airlines including Qatar Airways, Emirates, China Eastern, EVA Air, Korean Air, Delta, and All Nippon Airways (ANA) have been severely affected. With widespread delays and cancellations, airports in Hong Kong, China, Vietnam, South Korea, and beyond have struggled to maintain operations amid the chaotic conditions.

Below is a detailed breakdown of the impact, organized by country and airport.

Hong Kong: Over 380 Flights Impacted at Hong Kong International Airport

One of Asia’s busiest aviation hubs, Hong Kong International Airport recorded 287 delays and 99 cancellations in a single day. Leading the disruption was Cathay Pacific, with 78 delayed flights and 53 cancellations, impacting thousands of travelers. Hong Kong Airlines experienced 65 delays and 5 cancellations, while Hong Kong Express was hit with 54 delays. Foreign carriers including Emirates, Qatar Airways, Korean Air, and United Airlines were also affected. The airport’s high passenger volume compounded the chaos, with long queues, diverted connections, and strained ground services reported. Other major airlines affected include:

• Hong Kong Airlines: 65 delays and 5 cancellations
• Hong Kong Express: 54 delays and 1 cancellation
• China Eastern: 13 cancellations
• United Airlines: 2 delays and 2 cancellations
• Singapore Airlines, Korean Air, Thai Airways: Moderate disruptions
• Air Canada, Lufthansa, Swiss, Air France, Qatar Airways: All reported cancellations or significant delays

The ripple effect of the typhoon created long queues, missed connections, and widespread confusion across terminals.

China: Over 1100 Flights Affected Across Four Key Airports

China bore the brunt of the storm, reporting over 1,030 delays and 85 cancellations across four major airports.

Shanghai Pudong International Airport

Shanghai Pudong, a major hub for both international and domestic travel, logged 422 delays and 28 cancellations. China Eastern, the dominant carrier at Pudong, saw the highest numbers with 112 delayed flights and 15 cancellations. Other key players, including Air China and Shanghai Airlines, also faced numerous operational issues. International carriers like EVA Air, Turkish Airlines, and Garuda Indonesia experienced full disruptions on some routes. With many flights grounded, travelers were forced to wait for hours or rebook their itineraries entirely.

• 422 delays and 28 cancellations
• China Eastern was the most impacted, with 112 delays and 15 cancellations
• Shanghai Airlines, Air China, Spring Airlines, and Juneyao Airlines each reported dozens of delays
• Several international carriers, including Turkish Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, and Vietnam Airlines, experienced full disruption of scheduled flights

Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport

Hongqiao International Airport faced 177 delays and 28 cancellations. China Eastern again saw the heaviest impact, with 65 delays and 18 cancellations. Juneyao Airlines, Spring Airlines, and Shenzhen Airlines reported dozens of affected flights. With its role as a major domestic connection point, disruptions at Hongqiao sent ripple effects across the Chinese airline network, further straining the country’s flight operations during the storm.

• 177 delays and 28 cancellations
• Again, China Eastern led the disruption with 65 delays and 18 cancellations
• Other affected airlines include Juneyao Airlines, Spring Airlines, and Shenzhen Airlines

Zhanjiang Airport

Though smaller than Shanghai’s airfields, Zhanjiang Airport still experienced notable disruption with 7 delays and 15 cancellations. China Eastern and OTT Airlines were among the worst-hit, with OTT canceling 75% of its operations that day. The high cancellation ratio underscored the severity of the weather conditions and the inability of smaller regional airports to maintain operations during extreme events.

• 7 delays and 15 cancellations
• China Eastern, Air China, and OTT Airlines experienced high cancellation percentages, especially OTT which canceled 75% of its flights

Chengdu Tianfu International Airport

Chengdu Tianfu was another major Chinese airport overwhelmed by the typhoon’s impact, logging 424 delays and 14 cancellations. Sichuan Airlines alone delayed 75 flights, while China Eastern and Air China collectively disrupted over 140 operations. Thai Airways, VietJet Air, and GX Airlines reported full cancellations on international routes. Despite being a modern facility, Chengdu’s operations were heavily hampered, with both arrival and departure schedules thrown off.

• 424 delays and 14 cancellations
• China Eastern and Air China experienced over 140 combined disruptions
• Sichuan Airlines alone had 75 delays, marking one of the highest among single carriers
• Foreign carriers like Thai Airways, VietJet Air, and GX Airlines faced 100% cancellation or delay rates

China’s national carriers and regional airlines were all severely hampered, illustrating the far-reaching operational havoc wrought by Typhoon Wipha.

Vietnam: Nearly 950 Flights Disrupted Across Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang

Vietnam’s aviation sector was thrown into disarray, with 937 delays and 5 cancellations recorded across its three main airports.

Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi)

• 338 delays, 2 cancellations
• Vietnam Airlines: 135 delays
• VietJet Air: 141 delays
• Bamboo Airways and Pacific Airlines also reported significant numbers

Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City)

• 417 delays, 3 cancellations
• Vietnam Airlines: 161 delays
• VietJet Air: 169 delays
• Bamboo Airways, Pacific Airlines, and AirAsia faced moderate operational stress

Da Nang International Airport

• 182 delays, 0 cancellations
• VietJet Air: 62 delays
• Vietnam Airlines: 82 delays
• Hong Kong Express Airways, Korean Air, Jeju Air, and EVA Air saw significant impact

Although there were no cancellations in Da Nang, delays across all carriers were prevalent, with both local and regional players heavily impacted.

South Korea: Incheon International Airport Logs 254 Delays

Incheon International Airport, South Korea’s primary aviation gateway, reported 254 delays and 1 cancellation. Jeju Air and Asiana Airlines experienced the largest number of delays, with 38 and 52 respectively. Korean Air faced 36 delays and a single cancellation. Other affected carriers included Tway Air, Vietnam Airlines, Emirates, and Delta. The airport remained operational but struggled to manage the heavy load of delayed flights and rescheduled connections.

• Jeju Air: 38 delays
• Asiana Airlines: 52 delays
• Korean Air: 36 delays and 1 cancellation
• Tway Air: 15 delays
• Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, Emirates, and Singapore Airlines also reported disruption

Despite only a single cancellation, the delays caused rolling effects on international flight schedules and passenger transfers.

Japan: Narita International Airport Reports 121 Delays and 3 Cancellations

Narita International Airport experienced 121 delays and 3 cancellations, primarily affecting international routes. Cathay Pacific cancelled three flights, while ANA and Japan Airlines saw moderate delays. EVA Air, Korean Air, Delta, and Qatar Airways also reported service interruptions. Though Japan was on the edge of the typhoon’s main path, its air traffic was still affected due to the interconnected nature of regional flight operations.

• Cathay Pacific: 3 cancellations and 1 delay
• All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines: Disruptions across several regional routes
• Hong Kong Airlines: 6 delays
• Korean Air, EVA Air, Delta, and Qatar Airways all had impacted services

Although less severe than other regional airports, the typhoon’s tailwinds were still felt strongly in Japanese airspace.

Taiwan: Taoyuan International Airport Logs 144 Delays, 8 Cancellations

Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport reported 144 delays and 8 cancellations, notably among regional operators.

• EVA Air: 37 delays
• Cathay Pacific: 4 cancellations, 11 delays
• Starlux Airlines and Greater Bay Airlines each saw cancellations and delays
• Hong Kong Express Airways: 4 delays
• Vietnam Airlines: 4 delays

While Taiwan saw moderate figures compared to its neighbors, key international carriers were still hindered by Wipha’s regional reach.

Macau: High Cancellation Rate Despite Low Traffic Volume

Macau International Airport, while smaller in scale, was hit with 17 cancellations and 7 delays, a significant disruption relative to its size. China Eastern canceled 9 flights, while Air Macau, Air China, and Scoot also pulled scheduled services. Though the overall flight volume was lower than mainland hubs, Macau’s tourism-dependent routes suffered severely from the sudden halt in operations.

• China Eastern: 9 cancellations
• Air Macau: 3 cancellations
• Scoot, Air China, and Shenzhen Airlines each canceled at least one flight

Although relatively small in scale, the high cancellation rate highlighted the vulnerability of smaller airports to weather-induced disruptions.

Countrywise Breakdown of Delays and Cancellations Caused by Typhoon Wipha

Airlines Most Affected

Some of the most heavily impacted airlines across the region include:

• Vietnam Airlines – Over 380 disrupted flights
• VietJet Air – Approximately 370 delays
• China Eastern – More than 200 flight issues across multiple airports
• Cathay Pacific – Over 100 delays and cancellations in Hong Kong and other hubs
• Sichuan Airlines – 75 delays at Chengdu alone
• EVA Air, Korean Air, ANA, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Delta – Multiple delays and cancellations across several airports

From regional budget carriers to full-service international airlines, virtually all operators across East and Southeast Asia felt the impact of Typhoon Wipha’s disruption.

Wider Impact on Passengers and Airport Operations

Passengers were met with:

• Hours-long delays at boarding gates
• Overflowing lounges and crowded terminals
• Rebookings and rerouted itineraries
• A shortage of available hotel rooms for stranded travelers

In some locations, like Hong Kong and Chengdu, tarmac operations were briefly suspended, further compounding flight backlogs.

With over 2,000 flights delayed or cancelled, Typhoon Wipha has once again revealed the fragility of Asia’s aviation infrastructure during extreme weather events. From Hong Kong to Hanoi, and Shanghai to Seoul, airports, airlines, and passengers alike struggled to navigate a day of widespread disruption. As storms grow more frequent and unpredictable, airports and carriers will need to further invest in contingency planning, passenger support, and cross-border coordination.

Qatar, Emirates, Delta, China Eastern, EVA, All Nippon, Korean Air and more bore the brunt as Typhoon Wipha triggered over 2,000 flight delays and cancellations across Hong Kong, Vietnam, and China. The storm set off a chain reaction of delay and cancellation for multiple carriers, leaving thousands of travelers stranded and severely disrupting airline schedules across the region.

For now, travelers are advised to check with their airlines before departure and remain prepared for possible weather-related impacts across the region in the coming days.