Published on
August 7, 2025 |
By: TTW News Desk
Asia’s major aviation centers have been hit with another wave of weather disruption which has resulted in the cancellation of sixty flights. Some of the flights operated by major airlines like Japan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Air China, Emirates, Korean Air, and many others have been cancelled. The most affected airports are Beijing Capital, Chengdu Tianfu, Shanghai Pudong, Shenzhen Bao’an and Guangzhou Baiyun, which have received heavy rains and thunderstorms paired with low visibility. The continuing weather system is complicating the situation for airlines and travelers. As the system continues to sweep across key areas, airlines and travelers are experiencing more and more cascading delays, cancellations, and logistical challenges spanning the continent.
With over 60 cancellations and nearly 3,000 delays reported across major Chinese airports, the disruption has reached critical levels. Shenzhen Bao’an alone saw 16 cancellations (1%) and 696 delays (over 55%), primarily affecting China Southern and Shenzhen Airlines. Guangzhou Baiyun recorded 10 cancellations (1%) and 854 delays (over 60%), with China Southern and China Eastern the most heavily impacted. Shanghai Hongqiao logged 8 cancellations (1%) and 240 delays (23%), with Juneyao Airlines and China Eastern at the forefront of the fallout. Beijing Capital reported 8 cancellations (1%) and 374 delays (32%), affecting Air China, Hainan Airlines, and Shenzhen Airlines. Shanghai Pudong experienced 3 cancellations (0%) and 361 delays (22%), while Chengdu Tianfu reported 4 cancellations (0%) and 340 delays (24%), with Sichuan Airlines and China Eastern disrupted. Chongqing Jiangbei saw 4 cancellations (1%) and 297 delays (35%), while Ningbo Lishe recorded 5 cancellations (3%) and 158 delays (41%). Lanzhou Zhongchuan had 4 cancellations (3%) and 135 delays (28%), and Haikou Meilan logged 2 cancellations (1%) and 222 delays (35%). These cascading delays are affecting nearly every domestic carrier and creating nationwide gridlock as travel disruptions intensify.
Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport Sees 696 Delays and 16 Cancellations
Shenzhen Bao’an, one of southern China’s busiest airports, recorded an astonishing 696 flight delays and 16 cancellations by late afternoon. China Southern Airlines bore the brunt, with 174 delays affecting 55% of its scheduled departures and 8 outright cancellations. Shenzhen Airlines was not far behind, with 222 delayed flights, impacting 65% of its daily schedule.
Spring Airlines, Juneyao Airlines, and China Eastern also reported significant operational challenges, with Juneyao seeing delay rates as high as 64% and cancellation rates of 14%. Even international carriers like Asiana, All Nippon Airways, and AirAsia reported minor disruptions, highlighting the far-reaching effects of the day’s chaos.
Guangzhou Baiyun International Reports 854 Delays and 10 Cancellations
At Guangzhou Baiyun International, the largest airport in southern China, a total of 854 flights were delayed and 10 cancelled, as weather and congestion choked operations. China Southern Airlines again faced massive pressure, with 432 delayed flights and 2 cancellations, while China Eastern Airlines reported 84 delays and 2 cancellations.
Air China, the national carrier, saw 51 flights delayed and 3 cancelled, many of them long-haul or code-shared routes. Smaller carriers such as Juneyao Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, and XiamenAir also reported high delay percentages, with some carriers experiencing delays on over 60% of their daily flights.
Shanghai Airports Also Hit Hard, Especially Hongqiao
Shanghai’s two major airports were both affected, with Shanghai Hongqiao International reporting 240 delays and 8 cancellations, while Shanghai Pudong International logged 361 delays and 3 cancellations.
At Hongqiao, Juneyao Airlines again topped the cancellation chart with 4 grounded flights and 25 delays, while China Eastern suffered 88 delays. Shanghai Airlines and Spring Airlines also faced substantial slowdowns, with delay rates approaching 40% for some.
Over at Pudong, China Eastern and Shanghai Airlines faced dozens of delays, alongside international carriers like Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, and American Airlines. Juneyao Airlines logged 42 delays, while Shenzhen Airlines had 11, with one of the highest delay percentages at 68%.
Beijing Capital and Chengdu Also Experience Heavy Disruption
Beijing Capital International Airport reported 374 delays and 8 cancellations, with Air China seeing 255 flights delayed and all 8 cancellations attributed to the national flag carrier. Shenzhen Airlines, Hainan Airlines, and Dalian Airlines were also affected.
Chengdu Tianfu International Airport saw 340 delays and 4 cancellations, with Air China and Sichuan Airlines shouldering the majority of the burden. China Eastern and Juneyao Airlines reported high volumes of delayed flights, particularly on domestic routes across the southwest region.
Regional Airports: Ningbo, Chongqing, Lanzhou, and Haikou Not Spared
Beyond China’s primary aviation hubs, several regional airports also experienced major disruptions, underscoring the nationwide scale of the operational chaos. Ningbo Lishe International Airport logged 158 delays and 5 cancellations, with Spring Airlines and China Southern Airlines accounting for the bulk of the affected flights. Meanwhile, Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport reported 297 delays and 4 cancellations, with top carriers such as Air China, China Southern, and Sichuan Airlines among those hit hardest. In the northwest, Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport faced 135 delays and 4 cancellations, with Shanghai Airlines suffering a particularly high cancellation rate of 50%. Farther south, Haikou Meilan International Airport experienced 222 delays and 2 cancellations, as Hainan Airlines, the airport’s primary operator, struggled with operational strain—reporting 77 delayed flights, which impacted nearly half of its scheduled services. These regional disruptions added to the mounting frustration across the country, as both leisure and business travelers found themselves caught in a growing web of delays and limited rebooking options.
Airlines Scramble to Rebook and Reassure Frustrated Passengers
China Southern, China Eastern, and Air China issued urgent advisories urging travelers to check their flight status before arriving at the airport. Many passengers reported difficulty reaching customer service, with social media flooded with photos of long queues, packed waiting areas, and travelers sleeping on terminal floors.
Some airlines, including Shenzhen Airlines and Spring Airlines, offered limited rebooking flexibility and flight change waivers, but the sheer scale of the disruption overwhelmed support staff and automated systems.
Ongoing Uncertainty and Travel Disruption Expected to Continue
As aviation experts explain, no end is in sight. Carriers will struggle to reposition aircraft and crews, so recovery will take days. A Shanghai-based airline operations manager noted, “this kind of disruption tends to cascade.” In other words, “ we’re seeing today’s problems pushing into tomorrow’s schedules.”
While China’s aviation system gets back to normal, travelers are advised to be in constant contact with their airlines and arrive at the airport well in advance. China is doing everything possible to stabilize the aviation system, but extended delays will occur.
