Flight Cancellations Surge Past 300 in Asia as Ferocious Weather Paralyzes Travel Across China, Hong Kong, South Korea, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Taiwan and the Philippines

A sudden outbreak of severe weather that affected many places resulted in at least 300 flights cancelled, paralysing air traffic across Asia as a whole. Air traffic into China, Hong Kong, South Korea, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Taiwan (also in the throes of its own storm alert) and the Philippines each bore this out. Raging storms, from high-voltage bolts striped across the sky like electric cables to air so thick you could practically chew it, did their worst at this season’s busiest international airports. Therefore airlines had no option but to sit tight for a while longer and wait until the weather forecast improved before they could even start up again. The knock-on effects were felt as major carriers struggled to keep operations going ataffected airports. Those affected included major operators like Singapore Airlines, Air India, Emirates, Korean Air and Cathay Pacific. The volatile weather of recent years has once again shredded regional connectivity on a massive scale.

Ferocious weather conditions sweeping across Asia have grounded air traffic and stranded travelers across the region. Over 300 flights were cancelled and thousands more delayed across some of Asia’s busiest international airports. From China and South Korea to India, Vietnam, Singapore, and Thailand, the air travel network reeled from storm disruptions, bringing air carriers and terminals to a grinding halt.

This widespread chaos affected leading airlines including Singapore Airlines, Air India, Air Japan, All Nippon Airways, Korean Air, Air China, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Lufthansa, KLM, United, VietJet Air, and dozens more. Airport authorities and carriers are urging passengers to check their flight status and anticipate continued disruptions over the next 24–48 hours.

Below is a detailed country-by-country breakdown of the cancellations and delays caused by the relentless weather front:

China

Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport

Shenzhen experienced 201 delays and a staggering 116 flight cancellations. China Eastern was hit the hardest, followed by Spring Airlines and Donghai Airlines. Airlines such as West Air, Juneyao, and Shenzhen Airlines also saw a significant share of grounded operations due to ferocious thunderstorms and wind activity battering southern China.

Shanghai Pudong International Airport

This major international hub reported 276 delays and 31 cancellations, affecting carriers like China Eastern, China Southern, Spring Airlines, and Air China. The ripple effects were felt throughout regional and international schedules, particularly those bound for the United States, Japan, and Southeast Asia.

Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport

Hongqiao registered 128 delayed flights and 34 cancellations, largely due to storm cells rolling in from eastern provinces. China Eastern and Juneyao Airlines experienced the most severe disruption, while Shandong and Spring Airlines also reported multiple halted departures.

Zhuhai International Airport

The storm’s path extended into Zhuhai, causing 62 delays and 33 cancellations. China Eastern bore the brunt with more than 80% of its flights cancelled, followed by China Southern, Shandong Airlines, and regional carriers like China Express Airlines and Donghai Airlines.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong International Airport

One of Asia’s busiest airports, Hong Kong International saw 211 delays and 75 cancellations today. Cathay Pacific experienced massive disruptions with 23 cancellations and over 80 delayed flights. Other affected carriers included China Eastern (31 cancellations), Hong Kong Airlines, Korean Air, and Air Premia. Storm surges and low visibility were cited as key safety concerns leading to the operational collapse.

South Korea

Incheon International Airport

Incheon reported 257 delays and 9 cancellations, with Korean Air and Asiana leading the disruption. Jeju Air, Jin Air, and international carriers like Singapore Airlines, Emirates, and Philippine Airlines also reported major scheduling setbacks. Korean peninsula airports are currently facing heavy rainfall, high winds, and lightning threats.

Thailand

Suvarnabhumi Bangkok International Airport

Bangkok faced 156 delays and 7 cancellations due to ongoing tropical weather sweeping in from the Gulf of Thailand. Hong Kong Airlines and SKY Angkor suspended several operations, while Thai Airways, Vietnam Airlines, and Air Macau endured major timing setbacks.

Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur International Airport

Kuala Lumpur saw the highest number of delays across Southeast Asia with 283 flights delayed and 3 cancelled. AirAsia experienced 147 delays, while Malaysia Airlines, XiamenAir, and Malindo Air were also impacted. Power outages, storm winds, and heavy cloud cover caused widespread disruption throughout the afternoon and evening departure banks.

Philippines

Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport

Manila suffered 172 delays and 5 cancellations, affecting carriers like Philippine Airlines, PAL Express, Cebu Pacific, and AirAsia. Thunderstorms and runway flooding slowed down airside operations, causing many domestic and regional flights to miss their slots.

Francisco Reyes Airport (Busuanga)

The smaller domestic airport in Palawan registered 9 delays and 2 cancellations, mostly impacting local flights by PAL Express and Cebgo.

Bangladesh

Shahjalal International Airport (Dhaka)

Dhaka recorded 54 delays and 3 cancellations, mainly affecting US-Bangla Airlines and Bangladesh Biman. Rain-induced visibility issues and crosswinds disrupted both domestic and international traffic.

India

Indira Gandhi International Airport (Delhi)

Delhi experienced 89 delays and 1 cancellation. SpiceJet and IndiGo flights were the most affected. With monsoon turbulence impacting takeoffs and landings, weather officials warned of continued instability throughout the region.

Vietnam

Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City)

Vietnam’s busiest airport saw 186 delays and 1 cancellation, impacting Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, and Jetstar Pacific. Rough cloud bands and strong gusts from the South China Sea forced multiple ground stops and extended hold patterns for inbound aircraft.

Singapore

Changi International Airport

Singapore Changi reported 182 delays and 1 cancellation, affecting major carriers like Singapore Airlines, Scoot, Jetstar Asia, and Emirates. Lightning alerts and saturated tarmac conditions halted boarding at several gates during peak hours.

Taiwan

Taoyuan International Airport

Taiwan’s main hub, Taoyuan, logged 210 delays with no cancellations. EVA Air, China Airlines, and Starlux experienced heavy backlogs. Although weather conditions were slightly more favorable compared to southern Asia, precautionary spacing and arrival reroutes led to significant delays.

Kaohsiung International Airport

Kaohsiung, in southern Taiwan, saw 56 delays and 2 cancellations, affecting Mandarin Airlines and UNI Air. Blustery weather and system backups from other affected hubs contributed to the growing list of delayed departures.

Airlines Affected

The disruption impacted dozens of global airlines including but not limited to:

• Singapore Airlines
• Air India
• Air Japan
• All Nippon Airways (ANA)
• Korean Air
• Air China
• Cathay Pacific
• Emirates
• Lufthansa
• KLM
• Philippine Airlines
• Vietnam Airlines
• Malaysian Airlines
• Qatar Airways
• United Airlines
• Scoot
• Jetstar
• AirAsia
• China Eastern
• Spring Airlines
• Juneyao Airlines
• Asiana Airlines

These carriers faced major disruption in both regional and long-haul sectors, with cascading impacts on connectivity to Europe, North America, and Australasia.

Asia Flight Disruptions by Airport – Total Delays and Cancellations Due to Severe Weather

Cause: Ferocious Weather Systems

Meteorological authorities confirmed that a combination of tropical storms, low-pressure troughs, and atmospheric instability contributed to today’s massive air travel paralysis. Sudden wind shear, poor visibility, lightning alerts, and saturated runways all prompted strict safety measures across multiple nations.

Advisory to Travelers

Passengers with scheduled travel across Asia are advised to:

• Check flight status directly with their airline or airport
• Arrive early at the airport to manage reschedules and rebookings
• Stay updated on local weather warnings and airline advisories
• Prepare for overnight delays and seek alternative connections where necessary

Horrifying storms and treacherous weather has caused more than 300 flights to be cancelled in Asia, disrupting air trave in countries like China, Hong Kong, South Korea, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Taiwan, and the Philippines. Airlines were forced to ground operations as lightning, heavy rain and low visibility swept through the region’s busiest hubs.

As fearsome weather hammers Asia, this morning’s spate of more than 300 flight cancellations and countless delays again drives home the region’s increasing susceptibility to climate-induced travel chaos. From Shenzhen and Hong Kong to Incheon, Bangkok, Delhi and Singapore, the soaring ripple effects have paralyzed important airports, stranding thousands of passengers and prompting airlines to cancel flights over safety concerns.

With leading international carriers such as Singapore Airlines, Air India, Emirates, Korean Air, Cathay Pacific and Lufthansa affected along operations to and from China, South Korea, India, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand and the Philippines, this sudden health crisis has brought into sharp relief the imperative of sound contingency planning, improved weather-monitoring arrangements, and coordinated cross-border response mechanisms.

With more unsettled weather on the horizon, travelers are advised to stay vigilant, check schedules before they set off and make safety the top priority as Asia’s aviation industry deals with one of its worst recent weather-related crises.