Over 190 Cancellations and 3,314 Delays Impact Travel Across Asia at Shanghai, Pontianak and Other Airports
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Travel around Asia has been disrupted by more than 190 cancellations and 3,314 delays, impacting airports in Shanghai, Pontianak, and other locations. Travelers across major aircraft hubs are experiencing concern due to the new operational issues. The increasing number of delays and cancellations has also been caused by heavy air traffic, problems with aircraft rotation, weather-related restrictions, and airport congestion. Significant strain was noted at Shanghai airports and numerous regional gateways as airlines dealt with congested schedules and operational difficulties. Travel plans around Asia have been impacted as a result, with travelers seeing extended wait times, lost connections, and altered flight schedules at some airports.
Major Asian Airports Experience Significant Flight Delays and Cancellations
The airport disruption pattern shows that some of Asia’s busiest aviation centres faced considerable operational pressure.
In China, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport recorded 388 delays and 2 cancellations, making it one of the most affected airports by delay volume. Shanghai Pudong International Airport reported 290 delays and 11 cancellations, while Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport recorded 65 delays and 17 cancellations.
Other Chinese airports also experienced disruption. Beijing Capital International Airport reported 119 delays and 7 cancellations, while Xi’an Xianyang International Airport recorded 60 delays and 8 cancellations. Qingdao Jiaodong International Airport faced 47 delays and 5 cancellations, and Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport reported 134 delays and 1 cancellation.
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India also experienced major travel disruption. Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi recorded 236 delays and 15 cancellations, while Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai reported 146 delays and 4 cancellations. Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad recorded 88 delays and 3 cancellations, and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata reported 53 delays and 4 cancellations.
Southeast Asian airports were also affected. Suvarnabhumi Bangkok International Airport recorded 281 delays and 4 cancellations, while Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport reported 206 delays and 14 cancellations.
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In the Gulf region, which is closely connected with Asian travel routes, Dubai International Airport recorded 305 delays and 6 cancellations, while Abu Dhabi International Airport recorded 132 delays and 2 cancellations. Sharjah International Airport reported 66 delays and 2 cancellations.
Airlines Across Asia Record Widespread Operational Disruptions
The airline data shows that both Asian carriers and international operators experienced delays and cancellations.
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IndiGo in India recorded 28 cancellations, representing 1% of its operations, along with 293 delays, accounting for 14%. The airline reported the highest cancellation count among the listed carriers.
Chinese airlines also faced major operational pressure. China Eastern recorded 26 cancellations (1%) and 306 delays (12%), while Air China reported 19 cancellations (1%) and 138 delays (7%). China Southern Airlines recorded 13 cancellations (0%) and 107 delays (5%).
Indonesia’s airlines also experienced disruptions. Batik Air recorded 19 cancellations (6%) and 68 delays (22%). Garuda Indonesia reported 2 cancellations (0%) and 45 delays (19%), while Citilink recorded 2 cancellations (0%) and 43 delays (16%). TransNusa reported 1 cancellation (1%) and 17 delays (22%).
Several airlines recorded high delay percentages. SpiceJet in India reported 8 cancellations (13%) and 37 delays (60%), while Vietnam Airlines recorded 2 cancellations (0%) and 145 delays (39%). FlyDubai recorded 5 cancellations (1%) and 97 delays (32%). Air Arabia reported 1 cancellation (0%) and 54 delays (23%).
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Other affected carriers included Shanghai Airlines with 7 cancellations (2%) and 55 delays (16%), China Express Airlines with 4 cancellations (0%) and 70 delays (15%), and XiamenAir with 4 cancellations (0%) and 51 delays (7%).
Additional disruptions were reported by Pakistan International Airlines with 5 cancellations (7%) and 9 delays (13%), Airblue with 4 cancellations (11%) and 7 delays (20%), Cathay Pacific with 1 cancellation (0%) and 81 delays (18%), and Air India with 1 cancellation (0%) and 97 delays (16%).
Other airlines affected included Hainan Airlines with 2 cancellations (0%) and 41 delays (5%), Oman Air with 2 cancellations (2%) and 9 delays (9%), Akasa Air with 2 cancellations (1%) and 10 delays (5%), Uzbekistan Airways with 1 cancellation (1%) and 19 delays (20%), Kunming Airlines with 1 cancellation (0%) and 17 delays (12%), Tianjin Airlines with 1 cancellation (0%) and 34 delays (9%), Shenzhen Airlines with 1 cancellation (0%) and 44 delays (5%), Okay Airways with 3 cancellations (2%) and 1 delay (0%), Fly Cham with 2 cancellations (40%) and 2 delays (40%), and Asia Union with 1 cancellation (25%) and no reported delays.
Airports Cities Countries and Airlines Affected Across Asia
The disruption has been concentrated around major travel markets.
China experienced the broadest airport impact, with multiple major cities affected, including Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, Xi’an, Chongqing, Qingdao, Xiamen, Tianjin, and others. The high number of delayed flights across Chinese airports created pressure on domestic and international connections.
India’s aviation network also faced significant challenges, particularly in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Pune, and Ranchi. The impact affected both domestic services and international connections.
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Indonesia experienced disruption at Jakarta, Balikpapan, Medan, Makassar, and other airports. Thailand’s Bangkok hub faced heavy delays, affecting regional and international travellers. Gulf aviation centres, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah, also experienced delays because they serve as important connecting points between Asia, Europe, and other global markets.
Airlines affected ranged from large network carriers such as China Eastern, Air China, China Southern, IndiGo, Air India, Saudia, and Cathay Pacific to regional operators across Southeast Asia.
| IATA | Airport | Cancelled % as Destination | Cancelled % as Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| AHB | Abha Regional | — | 6% |
| AMD | Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Int’l (Ahmedabad) | — | 2% |
| AUH | Abu Dhabi Int’l | 0% | 0% |
| BKK | Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Int’l | 0% | — |
| BOM | Chatrapati Shivaji Int’l | 0% | 0% |
| BPN | Sepinggan Int’l | — | 4% |
| CAN | Guangzhou Baiyun Int’l | 0% | — |
| CCU | Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Int’l | 1% | 1% |
| CGK | Jakarta-Soekarno-Hatta Int’l | 1% | 1% |
| CGO | Zhengzhou Xinzheng Int’l | 1% | 0% |
| CKG | Chongqing Jiangbei Int’l | 0% | 0% |
| CSX | Changsha Huanghua Int’l | 1% | 1% |
| DEL | Indira Gandhi Int’l | 1% | 1% |
| DXB | Dubai Int’l | 0% | 0% |
| DXN | Noida International Airport | — | 8% |
| EAM | Najran Domestic | 100% | — |
| HAK | Haikou Meilan Int’l | 0% | — |
| HET | Hohhot Baita Int’l | 1% | — |
| HYD | Rajiv Gandhi Int’l | — | 1% |
| ISB | Islamabad International Airport | 6% | 3% |
| IXR | Birsa Munda (Ranchi) | 55% | 36% |
| JED | King Abdulaziz Int’l | 1% | 0% |
| KMG | Kunming Changshui Int’l | 0% | 0% |
| KNO | Kuala Namu International | — | 2% |
| KWE | Guiyang Longdongbao | 0% | 0% |
| LHE | Allama Iqbal Int’l | — | 4% |
| LKO | Amausi | 3% | — |
| MDC | Sam Ratulangi Int’l | — | 6% |
| NGB | Ningbo Lishe Int’l | — | 1% |
| NKG | Nanjing Lukou Int’l | 0% | 0% |
| PEK | Beijing Capital Int’l | 0% | 0% |
| PNK | Supadio | 7% | 8% |
| PNQ | Pune / Lohegaon Air Force Base | 1% | 2% |
| PVG | Shanghai Pudong Int’l | 0% | 0% |
| RUH | King Khalid Int’l | 1% | 0% |
| SHA | Shanghai Hongqiao Int’l | 1% | 2% |
| SHJ | Sharjah Int’l | 1% | — |
| SWA | Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport | 2% | — |
| TAO | Qingdao Jiaodong Int’l | 0% | 1% |
| TAS | Tashkent International | — | 1% |
| TSN | Tianjin Binhai Int’l | 1% | 1% |
| UPG | Sultan Hasanuddin Int’l | 1% | 1% |
| URC | Urumqi Diwopu Int’l | 0% | 0% |
| WNZ | Wenzhou Int’l | 1% | 1% |
| WUH | Wuhan Tianhe | 0% | 0% |
| XMN | Xiamen Gaoqi Int’l | 0% | 0% |
| XNN | Xining Caojiabu | 1% | 1% |
| XIY | Xi’an Xianyang Int’l | 0% | 0% |
| ZHA | Zhanjiang Wuchuan International Airport | 5% | — |
What Passengers Affected by Delays and Cancellations Can Do Now
Passengers facing disruptions should first check their latest flight status directly with their airline before travelling to the airport. Flight schedules can change quickly when delays affect aircraft availability and connections.
Travellers with connecting flights should confirm whether their onward journey remains available. If a delayed flight affects a connection, passengers should contact the airline for possible rebooking options.
Passengers should also:
- Arrive early at airports where disruption levels remain high.
- Keep digital copies of tickets, booking confirmations, and travel documents.
- Monitor airline notifications through official apps or websites.
- Avoid making additional transport or accommodation arrangements before confirming airline updates.
- Speak with airline customer service teams regarding cancellations, refunds, or alternative travel options.
With 3,314 delays and 191 cancellations repoYestrtrted across the provided data, passengers travelling across Asia should remain prepared for possible schedule changes while airlines and airports manage ongoing operational pressures.
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Data Verification Notice
The data has been extensively curated by our editorial team using real-time aviation figures recorded on 25 September 2026 at 2:59 pm ET USA (25 September 2026, 10:59 pm GST).
Primary Source: FlightAware.
Verification Protocol: All statistics have been independently reviewed and cross-checked by our human editorial desk. Timestamped records, data logs and feed snapshots are securely archived internally to support historical accuracy and editorial transparency.
Note: Real-time flight-tracking figures reflect active airspace and operational data. Minor variations may occur when compared with information displayed at individual airport terminals or airline departure gates.
Yesterday, major Asian airports face 5,197 delays and 170 cancellations. Click here to read the full report.
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Verified by Tuhin Sarkar
