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Asia Airports Hit by 4,504 Delays and 278 Cancellations as Delhi, Shanghai, and Jakarta Face Massive Disruption

Flight tracking data shows 4,504 delays and 278 cancellations across Asia, with Delhi (494 delays), Shanghai Pudong (363 delays), and IndiGo hardest hit.

Kunal K Choudhary
By Kunal K Choudhary
6 min read
Terminal concourse at Tokyo Haneda Airport during widespread Asia flight delays and cancellations

Tokyo Haneda Airport, Photo by Markus Winkler

Commercial aviation across Asia experienced severe operational strain, with 4,504 flight delays and 278 cancellations logged across major hubs in China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, and South Korea.

SHANGHAI, China — Air travel throughout the Asia-Pacific region faced widespread disruption as live flight tracking data compiled by FlightAware recorded 4,504 delays and 278 cancellations. Heavy monsoon rainfall, severe convective weather, tight turnaround schedules, and regional airspace congestion combined to create extensive passenger backlogs at major international gateways.

Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in Delhi, India, registered the highest delay count among all Asian airports with 494 delayed flights, while Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK) recorded 25 cancellations—the highest cancellation total in the region.

Major Asian Airport Hub Country Scheduled Delays Cancellations Primary Operational & Weather Cause
Indira Gandhi Int'l (DEL) India 494 Delays 13 Cancellations Heavy monsoon rain & waterlogging on taxiways
Shanghai Pudong (PVG) China 363 Delays 13 Cancellations Severe coastal weather & East Coast airspace holds
Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji (BOM) India 357 Delays 5 Cancellations Monsoonal downpours & runway flow control
Jeju International (CJU) South Korea 256 Delays 2 Cancellations High domestic tourist volume & sea fog
Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) China 248 Delays 12 Cancellations Convective storm cells over Pearl River Delta
Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta (CGK) Indonesia 205 Delays 25 Cancellations Highest airport cancellations in Asia; local storms
Shenzhen Bao'an (SZX) China 194 Delays 8 Cancellations Regional airspace flow restrictions
Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA) China 185 Delays 7 Cancellations High-density domestic trunk line delays
Xiamen Gaoqi Int'l (XMN) China 176 Delays 6 Cancellations Coastal storm cells & airspace holding patterns
Suvarnabhumi Bangkok (BKK) Thailand 147 Delays 4 Cancellations Regional Southeast Asian connecting congestion
Beijing Capital Int'l (PEK) China 145 Delays 6 Cancellations Capital hub flow control initiatives

Heavy Rain and Airspace Congestion Disrupt Chinese Aviation Corridors

China’s domestic and international aviation network suffered heavy schedule disruptions across multiple metropolitan areas. The Shanghai Airport Authority managed combined totals of 548 delays and 20 cancellations across Pudong and Hongqiao airports alone.

Major state-owned and regional Chinese carriers bore the brunt of the weather-induced holding patterns. China Eastern Airlines logged 399 delays and 30 cancellations—the highest cancellation total among all carriers in Asia. Air China recorded 158 delays and 22 cancellations, while Shenzhen Airlines reported 129 delays and 11 cancellations.

Chinese Airport Gateway Code Delays Cancellations Cancellation Rate (%)
Guangzhou Baiyun CAN 248 12 12%
Shenzhen Bao’an SZX 194 8 17%
Xiamen Gaoqi XMN 176 6 24%
Beijing Capital PEK 145 6 11%
Chongqing Jiangbei CKG 115 4 9%
Kunming Changshui KMG 109 5 8%
Xi’an Xianyang XIY 91 6 8%
Chengdu Shuangliu CTU 90 7 9%
Chengdu Tianfu TFU 87 12 11%

Monsoonal Downpours Trigger Widespread Delays Across Indian Airports

India experienced severe disruption across its primary aviation hubs as heavy monsoon rains caused waterlogging around tarmac taxiways in Delhi. Delhi Airport reported 494 delays and 13 cancellations, while Mumbai Airport logged 357 delays and 5 cancellations.

Low-cost giant IndiGo recorded 485 delays—the highest number of delayed flights by any single airline in Asia—alongside 5 cancellations. Full-service carrier Air India logged 244 delays and 7 cancellations, while SpiceJet reported 43 delays and 4 cancellations.

Indian Airport / Carrier Code / Operator Delays Cancellations Primary Disruption Factor
Delhi Indira Gandhi Int'l DEL 494 Delays 13 Cancellations Heavy monsoon rainfall & taxiway waterlogging
Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji BOM 357 Delays 5 Cancellations Monsoonal downpours & terminal congestion
Kolkata Netaji Subhas CCU 60 Delays 4 Cancellations Regional feeder weather holds
IndiGo Airlines LCC 485 Delays 5 Cancellations Highest delayed flights of any carrier in Asia
Air India Full-Service 244 Delays 7 Cancellations Inter-hub knock-on delays

Southeast Asia and East Asia Hubs Face Flight Interruptions

In Southeast Asia, Indonesia’s primary hub, Soekarno-Hatta (CGK) in Jakarta, logged 205 delays and 25 cancellations. Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport (DPS) reported 96 delays and 3 cancellations. Indonesian carriers Batik Air (96 delays, 26 cancellations) and Lion Air (72 delays, 1 cancellation) were severely impacted.

In Japan, Osaka International (Itami) recorded 92 delays and 15 cancellations, while Kagoshima reported 39 delays and 13 cancellations. Flag carrier Japan Airlines logged 155 delays and 4 cancellations. In South Korea, Jeju International Airport recorded 256 delays and 2 cancellations.

Asian Airline Operator Home Country Scheduled Delays Cancelled Flights Operational Impact Profile
IndiGo India 485 Delays 5 Cancellations Massive domestic network knock-on delays
China Eastern China 399 Delays 30 Cancellations Highest cancellation count in Asia
Air India India 244 Delays 7 Cancellations Transcontinental & domestic feeder holds
Turkish Airlines TĂŒrkiye 228 Delays 1 Cancellation Asian & Middle East connecting route holds
China Southern China 202 Delays 1 Cancellation High-density domestic trunk line delays
XiamenAir China 160 Delays 2 Cancellations Coastal storm cells & regional holds
Air China China 158 Delays 22 Cancellations Capital hub fleet positioning delays
Japan Airlines Japan 155 Delays 4 Cancellations Domestic & regional Asian connections
Shenzhen Airlines China 129 Delays 11 Cancellations Pearl River Delta weather disruptions
Batik Air Indonesia 96 Delays 26 Cancellations High cancellation rate across Indonesian routes

Passenger Contingency Protocols for Asian Travel Disruptions

Passengers traveling through affected Asian airports are urged to take proactive measures to manage potential scheduling disruptions:

  1. Confirm Status Pre-Departure: Verify live departure times via airline mobile applications before traveling to terminal buildings.
  2. Allow Extended Transfer Windows: Ensure at least 3 hours for domestic-to-international connections at busy hubs like Delhi, Mumbai, Shanghai, and Jakarta.
  3. Utilize Carrier Waiver Policies: Contact airline customer service immediately if a flight is cancelled to request free rebooking or travel vouchers.
  4. Maintain Documentation: Keep digital copies of flight itineraries, boarding passes, and delay notifications for insurance and travel claim verification.
Disruption Scenario Recommended Passenger Action Expected Protection / Outcome
Inbound Flight Delayed (>2 Hours) Notify connecting airline transfer desk Secure priority rebooking on next flight leg
Flight Cancelled at Gate Request self-service rebooking via app Reserve open seats before customer queues form
Heavy Rain / Airport Flooding Depart early for terminal buildings Prevent missed check-in windows due to road traffic

Frequently Asked Questions

How many total flight delays and cancellations occurred in Asia today?

Real-time tracking data from FlightAware recorded 4,504 flight delays and 278 cancellations across Asian airports and airlines.

Which Asian airport recorded the highest number of flight delays?

Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in Delhi, India, recorded the highest delay total in Asia with 494 delayed flights and 13 cancellations.

Which airport had the highest number of flight cancellations?

Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK) in Indonesia logged 25 cancellations—the highest cancellation total among Asian airports.

Which airline experienced the highest number of delayed flights?

India's IndiGo recorded 485 delayed flights—the highest delay total for any individual carrier in Asia—followed by China Eastern with 399 delays.


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Disclaimer

This article is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, travel policies, regulations, and conditions change rapidly. Always verify information with official sources before making travel decisions. Nomad Lawyer makes no representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or suitability of the information provided. Readers should consult qualified professionals for advice specific to their circumstances. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Nomad Lawyer.

Tags:Asia Flight Disruptions 2026Delhi Airport Delays DELShanghai Pudong Delays PVGIndiGo Flight DelaysFlightAware Asia Tracking
Kunal K Choudhary

Kunal K Choudhary

Co-Founder & Contributor

A passionate traveller and tech enthusiast. Kunal contributes to the vision and growth of Nomad Lawyer, bringing fresh perspectives and driving the community forward.

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