Thousands Stranded as Asia–Middle East Flight Delays Ripple from Shanghai to Dubai

Thousands of passengers across Asia and the Middle East faced prolonged disruption on February 11, 2026, as a fresh wave of delays and cancellations rippled through major hubs from Shanghai and Delhi to Dubai, Bangkok, Tokyo, Beijing, and Seoul. Data compiled from airport and airline operations indicate at least 3,630 flight delays and 71 outright cancellations across Japan, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, China, India, South Korea, and Malaysia, snarling schedules for carriers including AirAsia, Emirates, All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan Airlines, Air China, Thai Airways, and numerous regional operators. The latest disruption underscores how fragile the region’s aviation network remains at the height of the northern winter travel season, with operational bottlenecks in one market quickly spilling into others.

A Web of Disruptions From Shanghai To Dubai

The impact of the latest disruption was most visible on departure boards at Asia’s busiest international gateways. Shanghai Pudong International Airport emerged as the single most delayed airport in the region, logging more than 500 late-running flights and a small cluster of cancellations. With China Eastern and Shanghai Airlines operating dense schedules out of Pudong, even modest operational slowdowns translated into widespread knock-on delays for domestic and regional routes.

Further west, Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi and Kuala Lumpur International Airport also ranked among the most affected, each reporting more than 400 delayed movements. At these hubs, the disruption was closely tied to the performance of dominant home carriers. IndiGo, Air India and Air India Express absorbed the bulk of the pressure in Delhi, while AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines bore the brunt in Kuala Lumpur. For travelers attempting to connect onward to secondary Indian or Southeast Asian cities, a single delayed inbound flight often meant missed connections and forced overnight stays.

Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s most critical long haul transfer hubs, experienced a particularly sharp spike in cancellations, with 22 services scrubbed and well over 400 delayed. Although the total number of cancelled flights remained modest compared with overall volume, the position of Dubai as a nexus between Europe, Africa and Asia meant that each schedule change reverberated across multiple continents. Emirates and flydubai, the airport’s anchor airlines, were forced to juggle aircraft rotations and crew rosters as late arriving jets from congested Asian hubs compressed already tight turnarounds.

In North Asia, Tokyo’s Haneda Airport and Seoul’s Incheon International were both heavily affected by delays, though they largely avoided large scale cancellations. Haneda recorded just a handful of cancelled flights against more than 300 delayed departures and arrivals, while Incheon suffered hundreds of delays with no reported cancellations. This pattern pointed to a system under severe strain yet still operational, with airlines and air traffic controllers opting to keep flights moving, albeit behind schedule, rather than removing them from the timetable.

Airlines Under Pressure Across Multiple Markets

On the airline side, India’s IndiGo, China Eastern Airlines, low cost giant AirAsia, Japan’s ANA and Japan Airlines, Air China, and Thai Airways were among the carriers most disrupted by volume. For IndiGo, which relies on high aircraft utilization and quick turnarounds at busy Indian airports, more than 190 delayed flights and a small number of cancellations added significant stress to an already tightly stretched operation. The airline had to reassign aircraft and crews to prioritize trunk routes linking Delhi, Bengaluru and other major metros.

In mainland China, China Eastern’s concentration at Shanghai Pudong meant that any bottleneck at its primary hub quickly cascaded across its network. Delays out of Shanghai and Beijing were further complicated by congested regional airports, where limited runway and gate capacity left smaller facilities struggling to accommodate late inbound flights without disrupting later waves of departures.

In Southeast Asia, AirAsia’s multi-hub, multi-country model exposed it to disruption on several fronts at once. Heavy delays at Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and other regional bases meant aircraft and crews were frequently out of position, forcing schedule tweaks, rolling delays and, in a few cases, outright cancellations. For passengers on short haul leisure routes, this often translated into long waits on the ground and uncertain arrival times, especially on evening services that offered no onward same day connections.

Flag carriers such as ANA, Japan Airlines, Air China and Thai Airways faced a different challenge. Their operations are built around carefully timed banks of arrivals and departures at hub airports to maximize connectivity for long haul travelers. When inbound flights from secondary cities arrived late, the delicate connection architecture at hubs like Tokyo Haneda, Beijing Capital and Bangkok Suvarnabhumi began to fray. In some instances, airlines held connecting flights to accommodate late passengers; in others, they allowed long haul departures to leave on time, obliging stranded travelers to reroute via alternative cities or wait for the next available service.

Why So Many Flights Are Delayed, But Few Are Cancelled

The disruption pattern on February 11, with thousands of delays but relatively few cancellations, reflects the operational reality in Asia’s post pandemic aviation recovery. Many airlines are running near capacity with limited spare aircraft and crews, particularly at peak travel times. In this environment, carriers often choose to operate flights later than scheduled rather than cancel them outright, both to avoid costly passenger rebooking and to preserve aircraft positioning for future flights.

At several airports, including Incheon, Jeju and Phuket, data showed zero cancellations despite heavy delay counts. That suggests air traffic and airport operators were able to keep runways open and ground handling functioning, but could not process aircraft at normal speeds. Factors such as low visibility, crosswinds, air traffic control restrictions, and congested taxiways can all reduce the number of movements an airport can handle per hour, forcing aircraft into holding patterns or prolonged waits at gates.

Across the region, infrastructure and staffing constraints continue to play a role. Some airports are still rebuilding workforces after deep cuts during the pandemic years, particularly in ground handling and security screening. Seasonal weather conditions add another layer of complexity. Winter fog in northern India, cold fronts across East Asia, and localized thunderstorms in Southeast Asia can all trigger temporary capacity reductions that ripple through the day’s schedule, especially when contingency buffers are thin.

Beyond immediate weather and staffing, there are structural pressures within fleet and maintenance planning. Global supply chain issues have made it more difficult for airlines to source spare parts quickly, while high demand for popular aircraft types has limited access to short term leases. When an aircraft is taken out of service unexpectedly, carriers often have few backup options, leading to last minute equipment swaps, multimodal rebookings, and elongated turnaround times that contribute to systemic delays rather than headline grabbing mass cancellations.

Knock On Effects For Long Haul Travelers

For international travelers using Asian and Middle Eastern hubs as connection points, the latest disruption created a patchwork of missed links, extended layovers and last minute rerouting. Dubai, in particular, found itself pulled into Asia’s operational turbulence once again. Even when flights to and from the Gulf were technically operating, many departed behind schedule because inbound aircraft from Asian cities arrived late, compressing ground time required for cleaning, catering, fueling and crew changes.

Passengers booked on itineraries that combined multiple segments, for example Tokyo to Dubai to Europe or Delhi to Bangkok to Australia, were especially vulnerable. A two hour delay out of an Asian origin could easily wipe out the minimum connection window at a hub airport, particularly during busy banks of international departures. In some instances, airlines responded by proactively rebooking passengers onto later flights or rerouting them via alternative hubs in the same alliance network. In other cases, travelers only discovered their options after landing to find their onward flight already departed.

At major hubs like Bangkok Suvarnabhumi and Kuala Lumpur, where low cost and full service carriers operate side by side, self connecting travelers were among the hardest hit. Unlike passengers on through tickets, travelers who booked separate point to point segments had limited protection when delays on the first leg caused a missed second flight. Many were forced to purchase new tickets at short notice, often at higher same day fares, or to accept overnight stays near the airport while waiting for the next available departure.

For premium travelers and those on tightly scheduled business trips, the ripple effects extended beyond flight timings. Lounge capacities were stretched as delayed passengers lingered for hours beyond their planned departure times, while airport hotels in cities such as Dubai, Bangkok and Delhi reported a spike in late evening walk in demand from stranded transit passengers seeking last minute rooms.

Scenes On The Ground: Stranded Passengers And Stretched Staff

Inside terminals, the operational strain translated into long queues at check in counters, transfer desks and boarding gates. In Shanghai and Delhi, passengers reported wait times of an hour or more to speak with airline representatives as staff worked through a backlog of rebooking, voucher issuance and baggage queries. Self service kiosks and mobile apps handled some of the load, but many disrupted travelers needed human assistance to navigate complex multi sector itineraries or to request special services such as wheelchair support and unaccompanied minor handling.

Airport facilities were also tested by the sudden influx of passengers spending far longer than planned airside. Food and beverage outlets at heavily affected hubs saw surging demand during off peak hours, with lines at popular coffee chains and fast food counters stretching well beyond their usual morning and evening rushes. Seating in general departure lounges became scarce as delayed passengers remained camped for entire afternoons and evenings, prompting some airports to open overflow waiting areas.

For frontline staff, including gate agents, ground handlers, cabin crew and security personnel, the extended disruption translated into longer shifts and complex rostering challenges. At some airports, airlines were forced to rotate staff between terminals or temporarily reassign employees from administrative roles to passenger facing duties to manage crowding. Despite these efforts, social media posts from passengers indicated a patchwork of experiences, ranging from commendations for empathetic handling to frustration over perceived information gaps and slow resolution of issues.

Local tourism and transport providers outside the airports also felt the effects. In cities like Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Dubai, late arriving passengers triggered a noticeable uptick in night time taxi and ride hailing demand, while hotel front desks fielded a surge of last minute extension requests from guests whose homeward flights were delayed or cancelled. In some cases, tour operators had to rearrange itineraries on the fly, swapping sightseeing days or adjusting departure timings so that clients could make alternative flights.

How Travelers Can Navigate Ongoing Volatility

The concentrated cluster of disruptions across Asia and the Middle East on February 11 fits into a broader pattern of volatility that has characterized the early months of 2026. In recent weeks, travelers have already seen major spikes in cancellations and delays linked to weather, infrastructure bottlenecks and capacity constraints at airports from Tokyo and Jakarta to Dubai and Istanbul. For anyone planning journeys through the region in the coming weeks, building flexibility into itineraries is becoming less a luxury and more a necessity.

Travel planners increasingly recommend allowing longer buffer times between connecting flights, particularly when transiting through large hubs where immigration, security and terminal transfers can be unpredictable in periods of congestion. Where possible, booking on a single ticket with one airline or alliance can offer greater protection in the event of disruption, as carriers have clearer responsibility for rerouting and accommodation. Travelers with the option may also want to favor early day departures; historically, morning flights are less exposed to the cumulative delays that can build up across an intricate daily schedule.

For those already on the road during such disruption peaks, staying proactive is essential. Monitoring flight status through airline apps, airport information feeds and text or email alerts allows passengers to react more quickly when schedules change. As soon as a significant delay appears likely, contacting the airline through digital channels or call centers can sometimes secure earlier rebooking than waiting to speak to staff at a crowded airport desk.

Travel insurance with robust trip interruption and delay coverage is also gaining renewed importance. While policy terms vary, many plans can help offset the cost of extra hotel nights, meals and replacement transport when flights are significantly delayed or cancelled. In an environment where even routine travel days can see thousands of delays across multiple countries, understanding the fine print of coverage before departure can make a tangible difference when plans unravel.

Outlook: A Region Still Finding Its Post Pandemic Rhythm

Looking ahead, aviation analysts caution that Asia’s skies are likely to remain choppy through the remainder of the winter schedule and into the spring travel season. Demand for both leisure and business travel continues to rise, yet airlines and airports are still grappling with fleet limitations, staff shortages in critical operational roles, and evolving regulatory and geopolitical factors that can affect airspace usage and route planning.

In Northeast Asia, the broader backdrop includes heightened sensitivity around cross border routes and a patchwork of travel advisories that have influenced capacity decisions on certain corridors. In South and Southeast Asia, rapid growth in air travel demand is testing infrastructure that has struggled to keep pace, particularly at fast expanding secondary cities. The result is a system that can function smoothly on ordinary days, but that remains vulnerable to shock when even one part of the network is hit by severe weather, technical issues or temporary airspace constraints.

For travelers, the experience of February 11 serves as another reminder that even a single day’s operational statistics can represent thousands of individual stories of missed family events, delayed business meetings and postponed holidays. Yet, it also highlights the resilience of the aviation ecosystem. Despite the scale of delays, relatively few flights were cancelled outright, and airlines and airports largely managed to keep people moving, albeit at a slower than planned pace.

As carriers continue to adjust schedules, invest in fleet renewal and rebuild operational buffers, there is cautious optimism that reliability will gradually improve. Until then, anyone planning to traverse the busy skies linking Japan, Thailand, the UAE, China, India, South Korea, Malaysia and their neighbors would be wise to approach their journeys with patience, flexibility and realistic expectations about the possibility of unplanned time spent in terminals from Dubai to Bangkok, Delhi, Tokyo, Beijing and Seoul.