Thousands of Travelers Left Stranded in Asia as Air China, Hainan, Shenzhen, Batik Air, Garuda, All Nippon and more Face 174 Cancellations and 897 Delays, Triggering Chaos Across Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Jakarta, Tokyo and others

Published on December 10, 2025

Asia’s major travel hubs are currently experiencing unprecedented disruptions, with thousands of travelers stranded across the region’s busiest airports. Key airlines, including Air China, Hainan, Shenzhen, Batik Air, Garuda, and All Nippon, have been forced to cancel 174 flights and delay an additional 897 due to a combination of adverse weather conditions, operational challenges, and air traffic congestion. Airports in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Urumqi, Jakarta, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Tianjin, and Haikou have been heavily impacted, leaving travelers in a state of uncertainty and frustration as they navigate this travel nightmare.

Overview of Cancellations and Delays

Across key airports in Asia, travelers are facing major disruptions, with a total of 174 cancellations and 897 delays due to a mix of adverse weather conditions, air traffic congestion, and operational challenges. These delays and cancellations are causing widespread chaos, affecting passengers traveling through some of the busiest airports in the region. The following table outlines the cancellations and delays at the major airports affected:

Major Affected Airports: Quick Analysis

Beijing Capital (PEK)

As China’s flagship gateway, Beijing Capital handles heavy international and domestic traffic. With 36 cancellations and 79 delays, queues lengthened, flights stacked up, and stranded passengers piled into terminal waiting areas. Rebooking counters overwhelmed quickly.

Shanghai Pudong (PVG)

Shanghai’s busiest air‑hub saw 15 flights scrubbed and 133 delayed. Many passengers bound for Europe or Southeast Asia found their onward journeys disrupted. The knock‑on effect spilled over to connecting flights across Asia.

Urumqi Diwopu (URC)

This west‑China hub took the biggest hit: 87 cancellations and 184 delays. Urumqi services many cross‑continent routes. The high disruption rate triggered cascading delays elsewhere — domestic, regional and international.

Jakarta Soekarno‑Hatta (CGK)

Indonesia’s main airport recorded 3 cancellations but 100 delays. Travellers destined for Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur or Singapore faced long waits. Domestic travellers were stuck too, increasing demand for hotel rooms near the airport.

Shenzhen Bao’an (SZX)

With 4 flights cancelled and 225 delayed, Shenzhen’s terminals filled up. This southern gateway links to Hong Kong, Southeast Asia and domestic Chinese cities. The backlog created major discomfort for travellers.

Other Airports (Chengdu CTU, Tianjin TSN, Haikou HAK)

Chengdu, Tianjin and Haikou also saw disruptions — smaller in scale but still significant. These delays added complexity to domestic travel and tourism. Haikou lagged especially as a key holiday gate to Hainan island.

What Caused the Chaos

• Severe Weather: Storms, heavy rain and dense fog in multiple regions reduced visibility and forced flight groundings for safety.
• Air Traffic Gridlock: Major hubs faced air‑traffic control bottlenecks. Tight scheduling and overlapping flight paths caused delays to stack.
• Operational Strains: Airlines reported aircraft maintenance delays and staff shortages. These logistical constraints compounded the disruption.
• Technical Issues: Some flights were grounded at the gate due to technical or system faults, triggering further cancellations as delays mounted.

How Travel and Passengers Are Impacted

• Stranded Travellers: Many passengers waited hours inside crowded terminals. Some missed connecting flights, while holiday plans and business trips collapsed.
• Widespread Frustration: Long queues at airline counters. Exhausted passengers longing for news. Hotels near airports surged in demand, creating price spikes.
• Economic Fallout: Business travellers missed meetings. Seasonal holidaymakers delayed bookings. Domestic tourism and regional transfers suffered.
• Airline Pressure: Airlines scrambled to rebook, refund, rearrange — causing overwhelmed customer‑service channels and extended holding times.

What Passengers Should Do — Act Fast

• Check Flight Status Often: Use official airline or airport websites/apps. Keep updating as situations change.
• Reach Out ASAP: Contact airlines for rebooking or rerouting instead of waiting. Be ready with alternative dates or routes.
• Be Flexible: Consider alternate airports, connecting flights or even different transport modes if flights stay cancelled.
• Carry Essentials: Pack snacks, water, medications, chargers — you may be stuck for hours. Keep travel insurance info handy.
• Monitor Travel Advisories: Stay updated on weather alerts, airport notices or airline advisories that may affect rescheduling.

Conclusion: How to Manage the Crisis

With thousands of travelers stranded and airlines scrambling to resolve the situation, this aviation crisis is expected to persist for some time. While the affected airlines are working hard to rebook passengers and restore normal operations, passengers are urged to stay informed, flexible, and proactive in dealing with these disruptions.

For those still trying to get to their destinations, patience is key. With rebooking and compensation options available, travelers should take advantage of these solutions to minimize the impact on their plans. It’s also essential to stay updated on the latest news from the airlines, as the situation continues to evolve.

Source: Different airports and FlightAware