Thousands Of Passengers Trapped Around Asia Today As Thailand, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, China, And Indonesia Delay 2,880 And Cancel 139 Flights, Disrupting AirAsia, Batik Air, ANA, Japan Airlines, China Eastern, And Others In Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, And More

Written By: Ryan Rashid

Ryan Rashid

Ryan Rashid covers the travel and aviation industry with a focus on the disruptions, industry shifts, and operational changes that shape how people actually travel. An English graduate from Calcutta University, he pairs sharp writing instincts with a solid grip on what makes a story travel online. He keeps a close eye on what's trending and what's about to, so stories land while they still matter. Underneath the fast pace, there's always solid research and clean editing holding it together.

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April 6, 2026 03:30 GMT+5:30

Image generated with Ai

Thousands of travellers were grounded in Asia today as flight operations faced major disruption across Thailand, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, China, and Indonesia, with 2,880 delays and 139 cancellations recorded across Tokyo Haneda Airport (316 delays, 1 cancellation), Kuala Lumpur International Airport (269 delays), Jakarta Soekarno–Hatta International Airport (289 delays, 7 cancellations), Singapore Changi Airport (183 delays, 1 cancellation), Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (212 delays), Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (297 delays, 17 cancellations), Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport (247 delays, 20 cancellations), Shanghai Pudong International Airport (204 delays, 15 cancellations), Don Mueang International Airport (122 delays), and Narita International Airport (148 delays). Additional affected airports included Nanjing, Shanghai Hongqiao, Changsha, Urumqi, Hangzhou, Beijing Daxing, Phuket, Osaka Itami, and Kagoshima.
The most affected airlines across these airports included China Southern Airlines (257 delays, 19 cancellations), China Eastern Airlines (225 delays, 46 cancellations), Japan Airlines (154 delays), AirAsia (116 delays), and All Nippon Airways (112 delays). Other impacted carriers included Shenzhen Airlines (14 cancellations) and Batik Air (7 cancellations).
Cities impacted include Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Nanjing, Changsha, Urumqi, Hangzhou, Beijing, Tokyo, Osaka, Kagoshima, Bangkok, Phuket, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Jakarta across China, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia.

• Updated today: Asia recorded 2,880 delays and 139 cancellations across 18 major airports.
• China Eastern Airlines (46 cancellations) reported the highest cancellation volume.
• China Southern Airlines (257 delays) led overall delay counts across the region.
• Tokyo Haneda Airport (316 delays) recorded the single highest delay count.
• Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta airports showed heavy congestion with 269 and 289 delays respectively.
• Several airports including Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Phuket, Narita saw delay-only disruptions.
• Low-cost carriers such as AirAsia and Scoot contributed significantly to delay totals.
• Chinese airports faced particularly high disruptions due to severe weather.

Most Affected Asian Airports

Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport

Heavy operational strain was recorded with 297 delays and 17 cancellations, making Guangzhou one of the most disrupted hubs in China.

Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport

Shenzhen reported 247 delays and 20 cancellations, with cancellations among the highest across all airports.

Shanghai Pudong International Airport

Shanghai Pudong handled 204 delays and 15 cancellations, reflecting high international traffic congestion.

Tokyo Haneda Airport

Tokyo’s primary hub saw 316 delays, the highest in the dataset, though cancellations remained minimal.

Kuala Lumpur International Airport

Operations were heavily impacted with 269 delays, driven largely by regional and low-cost carriers.

Soekarno–Hatta International Airport

Jakarta recorded 289 delays and 7 cancellations, highlighting widespread disruption across Indonesian carriers.

Airlines Most Affected by Asia Flight Cancellations and Delays

China Eastern Airlines

China Eastern Airlines recorded the highest cancellations (46) and 225 delays, making it the most disrupted airline overall.

China Southern Airlines

China Southern Airlines led delay counts with 257 delays and also recorded 19 cancellations, showing widespread operational strain.

Japan Airlines

Japan Airlines experienced 154 delays, particularly concentrated in Tokyo and Osaka, but maintained relatively stable operations with no cancellations at major hubs.

AirAsia

AirAsia reported 116 delays, driven by high activity across Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, and regional Southeast Asian routes.

All Nippon Airways

All Nippon Airways logged 112 delays, primarily at Tokyo Haneda, with minimal cancellations.

Shenzhen Airlines

Shenzhen Airlines recorded 14 cancellations, placing it among the top Chinese carriers impacted by flight disruptions.

Batik Air

Batik Air reported 7 cancellations and 58 delays, leading disruption levels among Indonesian carriers.

Scoot

Scoot recorded 53 delays, contributing significantly to congestion at Singapore Changi Airport.

What Can Impacted Passengers Do?

• Check airline apps or airport displays regularly for real-time updates
• Arrive early at the airport to accommodate schedule changes
• Contact airlines for rebooking options in case of cancellations
• Keep essential items and travel documents easily accessible
• Monitor weather and operational advisories before departure

Learn More

Overview of Asia Flight Cancellations

Flight disruptions across Asia were widespread, with major hubs such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Tokyo, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Jakarta repeatedly reporting delays and cancellations. Airlines including China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways, AirAsia, and Scoot were among the most affected.
The concentration of delays in cities like Shanghai, Tokyo, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur indicates sustained pressure on high-traffic corridors, while cancellation-heavy impacts in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Nanjing reflect localized operational challenges.
Across China, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, the disruption pattern remained largely delay-driven, with several airports such as Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Phuket, and Narita experiencing no cancellations but significant delays. Overall, Asia’s aviation network today faced a broad slowdown rather than widespread shutdown, with congestion affecting both full-service and low-cost carriers across multiple countries.

Source: Different airports and FlightAware