Thousands Of Travelers Grounded In Asia As Air China, Singapore, IndiGO, Thai, Japan And Other Airlines Cancel 137 And Delay 2,024 Flights Across China, Japan, Singapore, India, Thailand, Indonesia And Philippines Including Nanjing, Tokyo, Delhi, Bangkok, Changi, Jakarta, And Manila

Published on December 17, 2025

Thousands of Travelers were grounded across Asia today as massive flight disruptions led to 137 cancellations and 2,024 delays, affecting Indira Gandhi International, Delhi (548 delays), Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta International (359 delays), Suvarnabhumi Bangkok International (295 delays), Singapore Changi (234 delays), Manila International (175 delays), and Beijing Capital International (39 cancellations, 86 delays). Affected airlines included IndiGO (221 delays), Air India (172 delays), Thai Airways (92 delays), Singapore Airlines (56 delays), Cebu Pacific (82 delays), Batik Air (89 delays), and Air China (25 cancellations and 45 delays). The disruption pattern today remained largely delay-driven across India and Southeast Asia, while China and parts of Japan recorded higher cancellation intensity, particularly at Beijing Capital( 39 cancellations), Tokyo Haneda (10 cancellations), Nanjing Lukou (20 cancellations), Chongqing Jiangbei (17 cancellations), and Okadama (13 cancellations). Delhi, Jakarta, Bangkok, Singapore, Manila, and Beijing emerged as the most affected cities, reflecting widespread operational strain across India, China, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

• Updated Today: Asia-wide disruptions totaled 2,024 delays and 137 cancellations across the tracked airports.
• Delhi led delays with 548, followed by Jakarta (359) and Bangkok (295).
• Cancellation hotspots were Beijing Capital (39), Xi’an Xianyang (19), Tokyo Haneda (10), Nanjing Lukou (20), and Okadama (13).
• Top airlines by delays included IndiGO, Air India, Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and Batik Air.
• China-based carriers drove a disproportionate share of cancellations, led by Air China, Shenzhen Airlines, and Hainan Airlines.

Most Affected Asian Airports by Cancellations and Delays

Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL)

Delhi recorded 548 delays and 1 cancellation, the highest delay volume in the dataset. IndiGO and Air India together accounted for the majority of delayed movements, with spillover affecting Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and select international routes.

Suvarnabhumi Bangkok International Airport (BKK)

Bangkok logged 295 delays and 3 cancellations, making it the most delay-impacted hub in Southeast Asia. Thai Airways and Thai VietJet Air drove the largest delay counts, with ripple effects across Phuket, Chiang Mai, Singapore, and Ho Chi Minh City.

Jakarta–Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK)

Jakarta reported 359 delays and 5 cancellations, dominated by Batik Air, Lion Air, and Super Air Jet. The disruption profile was delay-heavy, with impacts extending to Bali (DPS) and other domestic hubs.

Singapore Changi Airport (SIN)

Changi Airport in Singapore saw 234 delays and 1 cancellation, reflecting congestion rather than network shutdowns. Singapore Airlines and Scoot led delay volumes, with regional connections showing elevated delay ratios.

Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)

Beijing Capital recorded 86 delays and 39 cancellations, the highest cancellation count among the tracked airports. Air China was the principal driver, with additional impacts across domestic Chinese routes and select international connections.

Manila International Airport (MNL)

Manila experienced 175 delays and zero cancellations, indicating a purely delay-driven day. Cebu Pacific, PAL Express, and Philippine Airlines accounted for most delays, affecting domestic and short-haul regional services.

Airlines Most Affected by Flight Cancellations and Delays

IndiGO

Led all carriers by delay volume with 221 delays, primarily centered at Delhi, reflecting widespread schedule congestion.

Air India

Recorded 172 delays at Delhi, contributing significantly to India’s overall disruption footprint.

Thai Airways

Accounted for 92 delays at Bangkok, the single largest airline delay count in Thailand today.

Singapore Airlines

Logged 56 delays at Singapore Changi, topping the local carrier list amid regional congestion.

Cebu Pacific

Registered 82 delays at Manila, the highest airline delay count in the Philippines.

Batik Air

Tallied 89 delays and 2 cancellations at Jakarta, leading Indonesian carriers by impact.

Air China

Stood out for cancellations with 25 cancellations and 45 delays at Beijing Capital, the most severe airline-level cancellation profile today.

How Travellers Were Impacted At Major Airports

• Expect longer wait times during peak departure and arrival banks.
• Allow extra buffer time for connections at congestion-prone hubs.
• Monitor airline notifications closely for rolling delays.
• Reconfirm same-day schedules before heading to the airport.
• Prepare for gate and timing changes, especially on short-haul routes.
• Passengers were asked to check baggage policies as delays increased the chances of luggage separation on disrupted flights.

Learn More

Overview of Asia Flight Cancellations

Today’s Asia-wide disruptions were split between delay-heavy hubs, notably Delhi, Bangkok, Jakarta, Singapore, and Manila, and cancellation-prone airports in China and regional Japan, including Beijing Capital, Xi’an Xianyang, Nanjing Lukou, Chongqing Jiangbei, and Okadama. Airlines most affected by delays included IndiGO, Air India, Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and Batik Air, while Air China, Shenzhen Airlines, and Hainan Airlines drove cancellations. Across Delhi, Bangkok, Jakarta, Singapore, and Beijing, congestion patterns dominated outcomes, underscoring a region-wide operational strain rather than isolated shutdowns.

Image Source: AI

Source: Different airports and FlightAware