Published on
March 31, 2026
Image generated with Ai
Thousands of passengers were left stranded across Asia today as a massive wave of flight disruptions across China, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong (SAR), and Malaysia, resulted in 6,712 delays and 470 cancellations across Guangzhou (977 delays, 105 cancellations), Shenzhen (795 delays, 91 cancellations), Shanghai Pudong (415 delays, 19 cancellations), Hangzhou (422 delays, 18 cancellations), Kuala Lumpur (398 delays, 3 cancellations), Hong Kong (345 delays, 3 cancellations), Tokyo Haneda (293 delays, 6 cancellations), Don Mueang (294 delays, 2 cancellations), Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (291 delays, 3 cancellations), Incheon (236 delays, 3 cancellations), Beijing Capital (217 delays, 17 cancellations), Beijing Daxing (201 delays, 12 cancellations), Nanjing (223 delays, 14 cancellations), Zhengzhou (200 delays, 9 cancellations), Chongqing (238 delays, 16 cancellations), Chengdu (172 delays, 16 cancellations), Changsha (115 delays, 11 cancellations), Qingdao (92 delays, 9 cancellations), Jinan (90 delays, 10 cancellations), Lanzhou (89 delays, 14 cancellations), Hefei (76 delays, 12 cancellations), Taiyuan (70 delays, 16 cancellations), Shijiazhuang (70 delays, 9 cancellations), New Chitose (68 delays, 2 cancellations), Kagoshima (40 delays, 10 cancellations), Osaka Itami (34 delays, 3 cancellations).
The most affected airlines across these key hubs include China Southern Airlines (819 delays, 29 cancellations), China Eastern (592 delays, 83 cancellations), Shenzhen Airlines (409 delays, 49 cancellations), and Air China (358 delays, 30 cancellations). Among non-Chinese carriers, AirAsia Group (406 delays), Japan Airlines (167 delays), Cathay Pacific (140 delays), and ANA Group (108 delays) also recorded significant disruption levels.
Other widely recognized airlines including Emirates, United Airlines, Air Canada, Thai Airways, Malaysia Airlines, and Korean Air also faced delays and limited cancellations.
Severe thunderstorms with hail caused the major flight disruptions at Guangzhou Baiyun and Shenzhen Bao’an.
The affected cities include Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Beijing, Nanjing, Zhengzhou, Chongqing, Chengdu, Changsha, Qingdao, Jinan, Lanzhou, Hefei, Taiyuan, Shijiazhuang, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Osaka, Kagoshima, Sapporo, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Seoul, spanning China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, and Hong Kong (SAR).
- Updated Today: Asia recorded 6,712 delays and 470 cancellations across 27 airports
- China Southern Airlines (819 delays) is the most delay-affected airline
- China Eastern leads cancellations (83) among all carriers
- Guangzhou and Shenzhen are the most disrupted airports in Asia
- Southeast Asian hubs like Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, and Hong Kong saw high delays but minimal cancellations
- Japanese regional airports remained the most stable with low disruption levels
- International hubs like Tokyo Haneda, Incheon, and Hong Kong showed moderate disruption with global airline impact
Most Affected Asian Airports
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport
With 977 delays and 105 cancellations, Guangzhou remains the most severely impacted hub, reflecting widespread operational congestion.
Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport
Recording 795 delays and 91 cancellations, Shenzhen shows high disruption levels, especially among major Chinese carriers.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport
A key international hub with 415 delays and 19 cancellations, showing both domestic and international impact.
Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport
Faced 422 delays and 18 cancellations, indicating heavy operational pressure with minimal cancellations.
Beijing Capital International Airport
Reported 217 delays and 17 cancellations, reflecting moderate disruption in northern China.
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Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport
Handled 172 delays and 16 cancellations, showing steady but contained disruption.
Kuala Lumpur International Airport
Saw 398 delays and just 3 cancellations, highlighting strong schedule retention despite delays.
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Hong Kong International Airport
Recorded 345 delays and 3 cancellations, with major contributions from regional and international carriers.
Tokyo Haneda Airport
Faced 293 delays and 6 cancellations, reflecting moderate disruption at a major global hub.
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport
Reported 291 delays and 3 cancellations, showing delay-heavy operations.
Don Mueang International Airport
Recorded 294 delays and 2 cancellations, dominated by low-cost carrier disruptions.
Incheon International Airport
Handled 236 delays and 3 cancellations, with noticeable international traffic impact.
New Chitose Airport
Experienced 68 delays and 2 cancellations, indicating relatively stable operations.
Osaka Itami Airport
Saw 34 delays and 3 cancellations, remaining among the least affected airports.
Airlines Most Affected by Asia Flight Cancellations and Delays
China Southern Airlines
With 819 delays and 29 cancellations, China Southern Airlines is the most impacted airline overall, driven by heavy congestion across multiple Chinese hubs.
China Eastern
China Eastern recorded 592 delays and 83 cancellations, making it the leading airline in cancellations across the region.
Shenzhen Airlines
With 409 delays and 49 cancellations, Shenzhen Airlines shows both high delay volume and significant cancellations.
Air China
Air China reported 358 delays and 30 cancellations, reflecting widespread disruption across key domestic routes.
AirAsia Group
The AirAsia Group accumulated approximately 406 delays, particularly across Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok operations.
Japan Airlines
Japan Airlines recorded 167 delays, primarily at Tokyo Haneda and regional Japanese airports.
Cathay Pacific
With 140 delays, Cathay Pacific was heavily impacted at its Hong Kong hub.
ANA Group
ANA and its subsidiaries recorded 108 delays, showing moderate disruption across Japan.
Thai Airways
Thai Airways experienced 65 delays, largely concentrated at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi.
Korean Air
Korean Air reported 53 delays and 2 cancellations, reflecting moderate disruption at Incheon.
What Can Impacted Passengers Do?
- Check real-time flight status through airline apps or airport websites
- Arrive early to account for possible delays
- Keep alternative travel plans ready
- Contact airlines for rebooking or compensation options
- Monitor notifications for gate or schedule changes
- Retain travel documents and receipts for claims
Overview of Asia Flight Cancellations
Flight disruptions across Asia today highlight a clear pattern of delay-heavy operations, particularly across China, where airports like Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Beijing, Nanjing, and Zhengzhou faced the highest levels of congestion. Airlines such as China Southern Airlines, China Eastern, Air China, Shenzhen Airlines, and Hainan Airlines were among the most affected.
In Southeast Asia, hubs like Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, and Hong Kong experienced high delay volumes but minimal cancellations, with airlines like AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways, and Cathay Pacific maintaining operations despite disruptions.
Meanwhile, Japan’s airports, including Tokyo, Osaka, Kagoshima, and Sapporo, remained relatively stable, with fewer cancellations and moderate delays involving Japan Airlines and ANA.
Across South Korea, Incheon saw moderate disruption involving Korean Air and Asiana Airlines.
Overall, affected regions include China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, and Hong Kong, with disruptions spanning major cities such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Hong Kong, underscoring the scale of operational challenges across Asia’s aviation network today.
Source: Different airports and FlightAware


















