Published on
December 31, 2025
Across Asia’s busiest skies, travellers and airlines are grappling with widespread flight disruptions as a new tally reports 204 cancellations and 4,094 delays among leading carriers spanning China, India, Japan, Southeast Asia, and beyond. The cumulative impact reflects a combination of weather, operational challenges and regulatory pressures that has left millions of passengers stranded, frustrated, and scrambling to adjust itineraries. This latest data underscores the breadth of disruption affecting Asia’s aviation network from east to south to southeast regions, prompting government advisories and intense scrutiny by civil aviation regulators.
Severe Weather and Operational Constraints Amplify Delays
Over the past week, dense fog and reduced visibility across key hubs — including New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport and Ahmedabad — have forced airlines to cancel and delay flights amid safety concerns. Reports indicate over 118 cancellations and hundreds of delays at Delhi alone due to weather-induced visibility limits that prevented aircraft departures and arrivals. Such conditions have overwhelmed airport operations and challenged air traffic controllers’ capacity to maintain schedules, with passengers reporting long waits and last-minute flight changes that reverberated through connecting services.
Broad Regional Disruptions Highlight Systemic Vulnerabilities
Beyond weather, data aggregated from Asian aviation sources shows that disruptions extend across countries, with cancellation and delay reports touching Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, China, and India, among others. In Indonesia and Southeast Asia, recent reports list at least 60 flights cancelled in a brief period, as carriers contend with both regional weather fluctuations and infrastructure limits at peak travel times. These interruptions have spread to long-haul connections as well, affecting both holiday and business travelers across continents.
Cancelled China Eastern “China Eastern” (CES) Flights
Flight IDAircraft TypeOriginDestinationScheduled Departure TimeCES6831A320Chengdu Tianfu Intl (TEU / ZUTF)Guangzhou Baiyun Int’l (CAN / ZGGG)Tue 01:40PM CSTCES2885A20NNanjing Lukou Int’l (NKG / ZSNJ)Xi’an Xianyang Intl (XIY / ZLXY)Tue 03:20PM CSTCES2886A20NXi’an Xianyang Intl (XIY / ZLXY)Nanjing Lukou Int’l (NKG / ZSNJ)Tue 06:35PM CSTCES6964A320Lanzhou Zhongchuan International (LHW / ZLLL)Hefei Xingiao Airport (HEE / ZSOF)Tue 07:10PM CSTCES5519A320Shanghai Hongqiao Int’l (SHA / ZSSS)Qingdao Jiaodong Int’l (TAO / ZSQD)Tue 09:15PM CSTCES5387A320Harbin Taiping Int’l (HRB / ZYHB)Penglai International (YNT / ZSYT)Wed 06:35AM CSTCES9093ARJHefei Xingiao Airport (HEE / ZSOF)Xi’an Xianyang Intl (XIY / ZLXY)Wed 07:10AM CSTCES2227A319Xi’an Xianyang Intl (XIY / ZLXY)Karamay (KRY / ZWKM)Wed 07:45AM CSTCES2713A319Nanjing Lukou Int’l (NKG / ZSNJ)Yibin (YBP / ZUYB)Wed 07:55AM CSTCES6987ARJNanchang Changbei Int’l (KHN / ZSCN)Xi’an Xianyang Intl (XIY / ZLXY)Wed 08:35AM CSTCES5278A319Xi’an Xianyang Intl (XIY / ZLXY)Ningbo Lishe Intl (NGB / ZSNB)Wed 08:50AM CSTCES5387A20NPenglai International (YNT / ZSYT)Jieyang Chaoshan International Airport (SWA / ZGOW)Wed 09:50AM CSTCES2259A319Xi’an Xianyang Intl (XIY / ZLXY)Jiuquan (JGN / ZLJQ)Wed 10:00AM CSTCES2392A20NXi’an Xianyang Intl (XIY / ZLXY)Wenzhou Int’l (WNZ / ZSWZ)Wed 10:30AM CSTCES9094ARJXi’an Xianyang Intl (XIY / ZLXY)Hefei Xingiao Airport (HEE / ZSOF)Wed 10:30AM CSTCES5306A321Guangzhou Baiyun Int’l (CAN / ZGGG)Shanghai Hongqiao Int’l (SHA / ZSSS)Wed 10:40AM CSTCES6988C09Xi’an Xianyang Intl (XIY / ZLXY)Nanchang Changbei Int’l (KHN / ZSCN)Wed 11:35AM CSTCES2714A319Yibin (YBP / ZUYB)Nanjing Lukou Int’l (NKG / ZSNJ)Wed 11:40AM CSTCES2164A319Karamay (KRY / ZWKM)Xi’an Xianyang Intl (XIY / ZLXY)Wed 12:45PM CSTCES2165A319Jiuquan (JGN / ZLJQ)Xi’an Xianyang Intl (XIY / ZLXY)Wed 01:25PM CSTAirline-Specific Challenges Compound Continental Impact
Major carriers such as IndiGo, China Eastern, Air China, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, and Batik Air figure prominently in the tally of cancelled and delayed flights. For India’s largest operator, IndiGo, cumulative disruptions earlier in the month stemmed from complex scheduling problems after crew rest regulations changed, resulting in thousands of flight cancellations across its network — a situation documented by independent aviation analyses and regulatory responses.
Cancelled Air China “Air China” (CCA) Flights
Flight IDAircraft TypeOriginDestinationScheduled Departure TimeCCA1711A321Hangzhou Xiaoshan Int’l (HGH / ZSHC)Beijing Capital Int’l (PEK / ZBAA)Tue 12:10PM CSTCCA1490B738Dazhou Jinya (DZH / ZUDA)Beijing Capital Int’l (PEK / ZBAA)Tue 12:30PM CSTCCA8268A320Chengdu Shuangliu Int’l (CTU / ZUUU)Wuhan Tianhe (WUH / ZHHH)Tue 12:50PM CSTCCA1792A320Guangzhou Baiyun Int’l (CAN / ZGGG)Hangzhou Xiaoshan Int’l (HGH / ZSHC)Tue 12:55PM CSTCCA8551A321Shanghai Pudong Int’l (PVG / ZSPD)Chengdu Shuangliu Int’l (CTU / ZUUU)Tue 03:40PM CSTCCA8285A320Wuhan Tianhe (WUH / ZHHH)Changchun Longjia Int’l (CGQ / ZYCC)Tue 03:55PM CSTCCA2581A319Chengdu Tianfu Int’l (TEU / ZUTF)Lanzhou Zhongchuan International (LHW / ZLLL)Tue 06:55PM CSTCCA1277B738Beijing Capital Int’l (PEK / ZBAA)Lanzhou Zhongchuan International (LHW / ZLLL)Tue 07:55PM CSTCCA8286A320Changchun Longjia Int’l (CGQ / ZYCC)Wuhan Tianhe (WUH / ZHHH)Tue 08:05PM CSTCCA2730A321Harbin Taiping Int’l (HRB / ZYHB)Chengdu Tianfu Int’l (TEU / ZUTF)Tue 08:20PM CSTCCA8552A321Chengdu Shuangliu Int’l (CTU / ZUUU)Shanghai Pudong Int’l (PVG / ZSPD)Tue 08:40PM CSTCCA2582A319Lanzhou Zhongchuan International (LHW / ZLLL)Chengdu Tianfu Int’l (TEU / ZUTF)Tue 09:15PM CSTCCA1426A319Chengdu Shuangliu Int’l (CTU / ZUUU)Beijing Capital Int’l (PEK / ZBAA)Tue 10:10PM CSTCCA1405C919Beijing Capital Int’l (PEK / ZBAA)Chengdu Shuangliu Int’l (CTU / ZUUU)Wed 07:40AM CSTCCA2609A319Chengdu Tianfu Int’l (TEU / ZUTF)Penglai International (YNT / ZSYT)Wed 08:25AM CSTCCA2741A321Chengdu Tianfu Int’l (TEU / ZUTF)Shenyang Taoxian Intl (SHE / ZYTX)Wed 08:25AM CSTCCA1278B738Lanzhou Zhongchuan International (LHW / ZLLL)Beijing Capital Int’l (PEK / ZBAA)Wed 08:35AM CSTCCA2562A319Daocheng Yading (DCY / ZUDC)Chengdu Tianfu Int’l (TEU / ZUTF)Wed 09:40AM CSTCCA2584A319Chengdu Tianfu Int’l (TEU / ZUTF)Penglai International (YNT / ZSYT)Wed 11:55AM CSTGovernment and Aviation Authority Responses Intensify
In response to ongoing disruptions, several governments and civil aviation authorities across Asia have issued travel advisories and stepped up oversight. India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is probing operational lapses while advising passengers to monitor flight status closely and exercise flexibility. Meanwhile, in Singapore and other Southeast Asian hubs, official airport information systems have updated travellers on real-time status changes amid high traffic volumes and weather-induced delays.
Regulators have also emphasised passenger rights, including compensation and rebooking norms where flights are cancelled for operational reasons, aligning with broader aviation safety guidelines and international passenger protection frameworks.
Passenger Experiences Reflect Escalating Frustration
Across the region, travellers report heightened stress as rapidly shifting schedules lead to missed connections, extended layovers, and last-minute hotel bookings. Airports in Tokyo, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai, and Singapore saw a spike in passenger inactivity periods as airlines scrambled to re-seat travelers and issue refund notices. Some international quarters reported delays in excess of three hours, while cancellations triggered a cascade of knock-on impacts in local transport and tourism sectors.
Economic and Tourism Implications for Asia
The disruption carries economic consequences beyond the immediate inconvenience to passengers. Regional tourism boards and hospitality sectors are bracing for potential short-term declines in arrivals as travellers reassess plans amid unpredictable flight reliability. Asian aviation markets, already navigating post-pandemic recovery and competition from global carriers, now contend with reputational risks that could influence travel demand into early 2026.
Safety and Delay Analytics Signal a Complex Aviation Landscape
Independent aviation performance reports highlight that fluctuations in on-time performance and cancellation rates have pressurised airline operations. Data indicates that across the Asia-Pacific, cancellation surges have dented punctuality scores for multiple carriers, complicating airlines’ ability to maintain reliable service levels amid competing pressures of weather, crew logistics, and passenger volumes. Cirium
What Travellers Must Know Now
Passengers planning flights across Asia are urged to:
Check official airline and airport websites for real-time flight status updates.Review government travel advisories for regional weather or operational alerts.Understand airline policies on rebooking, refunds, and compensation where applicable.
These steps are vital in a climate where information timing and transparent communication can significantly reduce uncertainty and stress during travel disruptions.
Looking Ahead: Asia’s Aviation Sector at Crossroads
As Asia’s aviation landscape confronts these elevated disruption levels, stakeholders from government bodies to industry analysts stress the need for reinforced operational planning, enhanced weather-responsive strategies, and infrastructure upgrades to handle peak demand. Whether the current spate of cancellations and delays is a short-term weather-driven hurdle or indicative of deeper systemic bottlenecks, the impact on passenger trust and airline reputations is already evident as the region approaches the 2026 travel season.
In the end, behind every stat and flight number, there are travellers whose plans, memories and livelihoods hinge on reliable skies — and for now, Asia’s air travel landscape remains in flux.