Published on
April 16, 2026
Image generated with Ai
Thousands of travellers were stranded in China today as flight operations saw 3,024 delays and 210 cancellations, impacting Shanghai Pudong International Airport (249 delays, 17 cancellations), Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (308 delays, 18 cancellations), Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport (446 delays, 8 cancellations), Beijing Capital International Airport (170 delays, 24 cancellations), Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (175 delays, 15 cancellations), Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (255 delays, 6 cancellations), Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (196 delays, 14 cancellations), Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport (194 delays, 8 cancellations), Xi’an Xianyang International Airport (123 delays, 13 cancellations), Kunming Changshui International Airport (140 delays, 9 cancellations), Wuhan Tianhe International Airport (117 delays, 7 cancellations), Changsha Huanghua International Airport (121 delays, 13 cancellations), Nanchang Changbei International Airport (69 delays, 9 cancellations), Tianjin Binhai International Airport (34 delays, 6 cancellations), Hohhot Baita International Airport (46 delays, 16 cancellations) and Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport (99 delays, 3 cancellations).
Airlines most affected include China Eastern Airlines (49 cancellations, 468 delays), Air China (44 cancellations, 228 delays), China Southern Airlines (13 cancellations, 465 delays), China Express Airlines (32 cancellations, 165 delays), Hainan Airlines (23 cancellations, 108 delays), and Shenzhen Airlines (3 cancellations, 224 delays). Additional disruptions were also recorded across Juneyao Airlines, Chengdu Airlines, and Shanghai Airlines. Flight operations in China right now are facing these widespread delays and cancellations due to severe weather conditions and operational constraints.
The disruption spans key cities including Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Xi’an, Kunming, Wuhan, Changsha, Tianjin, Nanchang, Hohhot, and Zhengzhou, reflecting a nationwide operational impact.
- Updated today: China recorded 3,024 delays and 210 cancellations across major airports
- Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport reported the highest delays (446)
- Beijing Capital International Airport saw the most cancellations (24)
- China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines led delay volumes
- Air China and China Express Airlines recorded high cancellation counts
- Disruptions were primarily domestic, with minimal US-linked delays
Most Affected Airports
Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport
With 446 delays, Shenzhen emerged as the most disrupted hub, heavily affecting carriers like China Southern Airlines and Shenzhen Airlines.
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport
Recording 308 delays and 18 cancellations, Guangzhou saw major disruptions impacting China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport
With 249 delays and 17 cancellations, operations were significantly affected, especially for Air China and China Eastern Airlines.
Beijing Capital International Airport
Leading in cancellations (24) today, Beijing Capital saw disruptions across Air China and Hainan Airlines.
Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport
With 255 delays, Hangzhou experienced congestion impacting China Eastern Airlines and Juneyao Airlines.
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Airlines Most Affected by Flight Cancellations and Delays
China Eastern Airlines
China Eastern Airlines recorded the highest combined disruption, with significant cancellations and the largest delay volume, making it the most impacted carrier across the network.
Air China
Air China faced substantial cancellations alongside heavy delays, particularly affecting operations through major hubs like Beijing and Shanghai.
China Southern Airlines
China Southern Airlines experienced extensive delays with comparatively fewer cancellations, indicating widespread scheduling disruptions rather than flight grounding.
China Express Airlines
China Express Airlines reported a high proportion of cancellations and delays, reflecting notable operational strain among regional routes.
Hainan Airlines
Hainan Airlines saw moderate cancellations and delays, contributing to disruption across multiple domestic routes.
Shenzhen Airlines
Shenzhen Airlines recorded heavy delay levels relative to cancellations, particularly affecting traffic through southern China hubs.
Juneyao Airlines
Juneyao Airlines experienced elevated delay rates, impacting connectivity at key eastern China airports.
Chengdu Airlines
Chengdu Airlines faced notable delays and minor cancellations, especially across routes linked to western China.
What Can Affected Passengers Do?
- Check real-time flight updates when traveling through hubs like Shanghai or Beijing
- Contact airline support desks early, especially at busy airports such as Guangzhou or Shenzhen
- Allow extra transit time at large hubs including Chengdu and Chongqing
- Keep alternate travel plans ready when flying via high-delay airports like Hangzhou
- Monitor airline notifications for rebooking or compensation options
Overview of Flight Cancellations And Delays
Flight disruptions across China today, April 16, reflect widespread operational strain affecting both major and regional carriers. Airlines such as China Eastern Airlines, Air China, China Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, and China Express Airlines were among the most impacted.
Cities including Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen repeatedly appear as major disruption points, with additional pressure seen in Chengdu, Chongqing, Hangzhou, and Xi’an. The concentration of delays—particularly in Shanghai and Shenzhen—combined with elevated cancellations in Beijing and Guangzhou highlights a broad network-level slowdown rather than isolated disruptions.
Source: Different airports and FlightAware
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