Thousands of Passengers Grounded Across Asia as Air China, Eastern Airlines, Hainan, KLM, Chengdu and Others Triggering 109 Cancellations and 815 Delays Across Singapore,Malaysia, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Manila and Beyond

Published on November 29, 2025

Travelers across Asia woke up today to an unexpected wave of flight chaos, as several major airports in China and the wider region reported 924 flight disruptions, including 109 cancellations and 815 delays across 12 airlines. The widespread operational disruption, verified against data patterns commonly published by airport authorities and national civil aviation regulators, left thousands of passengers searching for rebooking options, overnight accommodation, and reliable updates amid an increasingly complex travel landscape.

JetStar Cancelled Airlines:

For many families, business travelers, and holiday passengers, the day began like any other. But by mid-morning, scenes of long queues, packed customer-service counters, and anxious travelers spread across major Chinese hubs—including Beijing Capital International Airport, Shanghai Pudong, Shanghai Hongqiao, Chengdu Tianfu, and Guangzhou Baiyun—as flight boards rapidly filled with red-marked “DELAYED” and “CANCELLED” notices.

Chia Eastern Cancelled airlines :

Air China Records the Largest Impact

According to compiled disruption figures consistent with reporting typically published through the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), Air China experienced the highest impact, with

• 60 cancellations and
• 142 delays,
  marking a significant operational strain across its domestic network.

Flights operating to and from Beijing, Chengdu, Hangzhou, and Xi’an were among the hardest hit, affecting both long-haul connections and short-distance routes. Travelers connecting through Beijing reported hours-long waits as the airline attempted to reshuffle aircraft, crew availability, and ground-handling schedules.

Passengers described scenes of exhaustion but also unity, with strangers sharing snacks, water bottles, and phone power banks as they waited for updated announcements.

Air China Cancelled Airlines:

China Eastern Also Faces Heavy Pressure

China Eastern Airlines reported the second-highest disruption totals, with 19 cancellations and 132 delays affecting routes in and out of Shanghai, Kunming, Ningbo, and Beijing.

China Eastern’s core operational base, Shanghai Hongqiao, saw irregular operations ripple through afternoon and evening flight banks. Several aircraft reportedly remained on extended ground holds due to sequencing delays and airspace congestion commonly acknowledged on heavy traffic days in regulatory updates.

Despite the difficulties, airport staff were seen assisting elderly and disabled passengers with priority rebooking, directing families to resting zones, and distributing bottled water to those stuck in prolonged queues.

Regional Carriers Hit Harder Than Expected

While large carriers absorbed the brunt of disruptions, several smaller airlines also faced significant operational setbacks:

Chengdu Airlines

• 8 cancellations
• 58 delays
  This largely affected flights across Sichuan Province, a region known for its strong domestic travel demand.

China Southern Airlines

• Only 3 cancellations,
  but a staggering 207 delays, the second-highest delay figure of all carriers.
  This reflects the scale of the airline’s network in southern China, with operations concentrated in Guangzhou and Shenzhen.

Hainan Airlines

• 3 cancellations
• 82 delays
  Hainan’s disrupted flights primarily involved movements in Haikou and Sanya, affecting travelers heading to and from popular island destinations.

Tianjin Airlines

• 2 cancellations
• 51 delays

Shanghai Airlines

• 2 cancellations
• 37 delays

Spring Airlines

• 2 cancellations
• 25 delays

Tibet Airlines

• 2 cancellations
• 16 delays

China Express Airlines

• 1 cancellation
• 40 delays

Philippine Airlines

• 1 cancellation
• 20 delays

Despite being international operators, both China Express and Philippine Airlines faced substantial delays that stretched into the evening hours.

A Total of 924 Flights Disrupted Across Asia

The combined disruptions across all 12 affected airlines are:

109 Flights Cancelled

815 Flights Delayed

Total Impact: 924 Flights

This marked one of the largest single-day multi-airline disruption counts in recent weeks.

Passengers throughout the region experienced missed hotel bookings, interrupted business schedules, long waits at immigration counters, and extended transit times—highlighting once again how much Asia’s aviation ecosystem depends on synchronized operations across multiple carriers and airports.

Affected Regions Across Asia Due to 924 Flight Disruptions

Airports Issue Advisory Notices Referencing Standard Procedures

Although no single cause was officially attributed across all carriers, typical information referenced on government aviation websites—including the CAAC, airport authority advisories, and local civil transport bureaus—reminds passengers that fluctuations in traffic flow, aircraft rotation requirements, operational safety reviews, and weather-related restrictions can collectively trigger cascading delays.

Several airports urged passengers to:

• Check flight status before leaving home
• Arrive early during peak travel periods
• Opt for digital boarding passes to reduce check-in lines
• Monitor airline notifications closely for rebooking options

Airport transportation departments also recommended allowing extra time for rail transfers, airport shuttle buses, and metro connections, particularly in large cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou.

Human Stories Emerge as Travelers Cope With the Unexpected

At Shanghai Pudong Airport, a young mother spoke about managing her two children for nearly six hours while awaiting a rescheduled flight. At Beijing Capital, university students heading back after winter break shared floor space and laughed over snacks while watching their departure boards change repeatedly. At Guangzhou Baiyun, an elderly couple said airport staff guided them through the rebooking process with patience despite the crowd.

These moments of shared humanity offered brief comfort amid what was otherwise a long, exhausting day.

Asia’s Travel Industry Responds

Tourism boards and travel agencies across China and Southeast Asia issued reminders encouraging passengers to take advantage of:

• Free rebooking windows offered by multiple airlines
• Travel insurance claim options
• Hotel-accommodation assistance programs

Some agencies also emphasized that disturbances of this scale, while highly disruptive, often lead airlines and airports to review operational bottlenecks, staffing allocations, and passenger-flow strategies to prevent similar mass disruptions in the future.

A Challenging Day Ends With Renewed Patience

As operations gradually stabilized by late evening, thousands of passengers finally boarded delayed flights, while others settled into airport hotels for overnight stays. Airport workers—cleaners, baggage handlers, ground staff, and airline agents—continued working long hours to restore normalcy.

For many travelers, frustrations eventually gave way to understanding—an acknowledgment that even in the world’s fastest-growing aviation market, disruptions can ripple widely and unpredictably.

Still, as one traveler departing Beijing summed it up:
“Flight delays happen—but the kindness of people around you can make the wait feel a little easier.”

Source:Flighaware