Chinese travelers are facing another bruising day in the skies as severe winter weather and air traffic constraints combine to disrupt operations at some of the country’s busiest airports. According to data compiled from domestic aviation trackers, at least 35 flights were canceled and 1,131 delayed across major hubs including Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu, hitting passengers flying with China Eastern, Air China, China Express Airlines and several smaller regional carriers. The growing backlog highlights how fragile airline schedules remain this winter, with already thinned networks leaving fewer backup options when storms or fog move in.
Bad Weather and Congested Skies Collide Over Key Chinese Hubs
The latest wave of disruption was triggered by a mix of low cloud, patchy fog, and strong upper-level winds sweeping across eastern and central China, according to operational summaries from aviation data platforms. While conditions varied by region, the impact was broadly similar: reduced runway capacity, longer spacing between arrivals and departures, and knock-on delays for aircraft and crews as rotations slipped further behind schedule over the course of the day.
Beijing Capital and Shanghai Pudong, two of the country’s busiest international gateways, once again bore the brunt of the turbulence. Ground control restrictions and intermittent visibility issues slowed takeoffs and landings, while congestion in the surrounding airspace forced aircraft into holding patterns or required rerouting. Chengdu Shuangliu in Sichuan, a critical inland hub linking western China to the rest of the country, also reported heavy delays as weather systems over the southwest added another layer of complexity.
The combination of local weather challenges and region-wide air traffic control flow management has become a recurring theme in China’s winter operations. Earlier this season, similar conditions led to more than 550 delays and dozens of cancellations in a single day across Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu. Industry analysts say the pattern underscores how even modest storms can now generate outsized disruption when flight schedules are tight and turnaround times are short.
China Eastern, Air China, and China Express Struggle to Rebuild Schedules
Among the carriers hardest hit in the latest disruption are China Eastern and Air China, the two state-backed giants that dominate traffic through Shanghai and Beijing respectively, along with regional specialist China Express Airlines. For China Eastern, delays at Shanghai Pudong and Hongqiao quickly rippled across its domestic network, affecting flights to and from inland cities such as Xi’an, Changsha, Wuhan, and Meixian. A handful of services were scrapped outright as the airline attempted to consolidate passengers and free up aircraft.
Air China, with its main hub at Beijing Capital and a sprawling secondary network through Chengdu and other inland cities, also reported significant schedule deterioration. Routes connecting Beijing with coastal markets such as Xiamen and Fuzhou, as well as trunk links between Wuhan and Chengdu, experienced long departure queues and late arrivals. In some cases, aircraft arriving late into Beijing or Chengdu could not be turned in time for their next sector, forcing further delays or same-day cancellations.
For China Express Airlines, which focuses on thinner regional routes from bases in central and southwestern China, the weather shock was especially acute. Services linking Zhengzhou with Bazhong, and flights operating between Chongqing, Zhaotong, and Xishuangbanna, saw substantial disruption. Because many of these cities have limited frequencies and small aircraft fleets, the loss of even a single round-trip can leave whole communities without same-day connectivity, a pattern that has become more visible as winter weather episodes stack up.
Stranded Passengers Face Long Queues, Thin Alternatives, and Patchy Information
For individual travelers, the operational statistics translate into a familiar but deeply frustrating experience: long lines at check-in counters and customer service desks, crowded departure halls, and uncertain timelines for rebooking. Passengers at Beijing Capital and Shanghai Pudong reported waiting for hours to speak with airline representatives as call centers and mobile apps struggled to keep up with reissue and refund requests. Those with tight onward connections, especially international links, were among the most vulnerable, often forced to overnight at the airport or nearby hotels as later flights filled up.
Compounding the frustration is the reality that winter schedules across East Asia have already been trimmed back compared with previous years, particularly on routes linking China and Japan. With many services reduced or temporarily suspended, there are simply fewer seats available for same-day or next-day reaccommodation when mass disruptions occur. Travelers trying to reroute via alternative hubs such as Guangzhou or Shenzhen frequently discovered that these airports, too, were operating close to capacity, limiting the number of viable workarounds.
The situation has revived memories in China of earlier high-profile incidents where angry crowds confronted airline staff over long delays and limited information. While there have been no reports of major unrest in the current disruption, social media channels carried a steady stream of complaints about sparse updates, last-minute gate changes, and confusion over meal and hotel voucher eligibility. Aviation experts note that communication remains one of the weak spots in the system, especially when multiple airlines and airports are simultaneously affected.
Which Cities and Routes Are Bearing the Brunt of Today’s Disruptions
The impact of the current weather-related chaos is far from evenly distributed. Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu stand out as primary pinch points, but the shockwaves extend deep into China’s interior. Routes linking these hubs to secondary and tertiary cities have absorbed a disproportionate share of the cancellations, partly because airlines prefer to preserve higher-yield trunk flights when aircraft and crews are in short supply.
From Shanghai, flights to Meixian, Xi’an, Changsha, and Wuhan were among those disrupted, according to operational snapshots from domestic flight-tracking services. At Shanghai Hongqiao, several short-haul services to central China were also delayed or scrubbed. Given Shanghai’s role as both a business and leisure gateway, any sustained interruption quickly affects wider travel patterns, from corporate roadshows to family reunions and inbound tourism.
In Beijing, cancellations and long delays centered on services to coastal and southeastern destinations such as Xiamen and Fuzhou, as well as westbound links into Sichuan and Tibet. Air China’s network between Beijing Capital, Chengdu Shuangliu, and high-altitude airports like Qamdo Bangda is particularly exposed to weather sensitivity, with crosswinds, low visibility, or rapidly changing conditions able to push aircraft and crew rosters off balance within hours.
Meanwhile, in the southwest, routes served by China Express and other regional airlines connecting Zhengzhou, Bazhong, Chongqing, Zhaotong, and Xishuangbanna also suffered. For business travelers and local residents who rely on these services due to limited rail alternatives, a single cancellation can mean a lost workday or a missed medical appointment. Travel planners warn that these peripheral routes are likely to remain vulnerable throughout the winter season whenever major hubs encounter weather or air traffic slowdowns.
Why China’s Airlines Are So Vulnerable to Winter Weather Shocks
China’s aviation system has expanded at breathtaking speed over the past two decades, but that growth has come with structural vulnerabilities that become most visible during winter. One issue is the density of traffic in the eastern corridor linking Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Guangzhou, and other coastal cities, where airspace is already heavily utilized. When fog or low cloud reduces runway throughput at even one or two major airports, delays cascade rapidly, leaving aircraft and crew out of position for later flights.
Another factor is the continued pressure on airlines to maximize aircraft utilization, especially as they adjust to evolving demand patterns in the post-pandemic era and a shifting geopolitical landscape. Slimmer margins encourage carriers to schedule tight turnarounds and minimize buffer time between sectors. While efficient on paper, this leaves little slack to absorb unexpectedly long taxi times, deicing operations, or diversion flights when weather deteriorates.
Recent strategic decisions have also limited flexibility. In the China–Japan market, for example, schedule filings for early 2026 show a steep reduction in flight volumes compared with late 2025, driven by a mix of political tensions, safety concerns, and softening demand. With many routes fully or partially withdrawn, options for rerouting passengers through alternative gateways have shrunk. That means a storm or fog bank affecting just a handful of airports can now disrupt journeys across a much wider geographic area.
What Affected Travelers Should Do Right Now
For passengers caught up in the current wave of cancellations and delays, the first priority is to stay closely informed about their specific flight. Aviation consultants strongly advise checking both the airline’s official channels and independent flight-tracking tools, since updates do not always appear simultaneously across all platforms. In many cases, airlines are offering free changes or refunds for tickets on impacted routes, particularly where disruption is clearly linked to adverse weather or systemic schedule adjustments.
Travelers who have not yet departed should explore earlier or later departures on the same day, or consider rebooking one or two days later if their plans allow it. For those already en route or connecting through an affected hub, speaking with airline staff as soon as a significant delay is announced can improve the odds of securing scarce alternative seats. Passengers with tight connections or long-haul onward flights may have a stronger case for priority reaccommodation, especially if their itinerary involves a same-day international segment.
At the airport, keeping receipts for meals, transport, and any emergency accommodation arranged independently is essential, even when weather is the primary cause and compensation is not guaranteed. Under both Chinese regulations and individual airline policies, carriers sometimes offer goodwill reimbursements or vouchers during large-scale disruptions, but claims typically require proof of expenses. Business travelers should also notify employers or clients promptly to reschedule meetings or deadlines, rather than waiting in the hope of a last-minute on-time departure.
How Policies, Rights, and Real-World Practice Intersect for Passengers
China does not currently have a unified, EU-style compensation regime that guarantees fixed payouts for delays and cancellations, particularly when events are caused by weather. Instead, a patchwork of civil aviation guidelines and airline-specific policies governs what travelers can expect. In general, when disruptions stem from uncontrollable factors such as storms, fog, or air traffic control restrictions, carriers focus on rebooking and basic care rather than financial compensation.
In practice, that usually means airlines will try to place passengers on the next available flight to their destination at no extra cost, or offer a refund if travel is no longer necessary. For significant overnight delays, many carriers provide hotel accommodation, meals, and ground transport, especially for domestic passengers stranded at hub airports. However, availability can vary widely depending on the scale of the disruption and local capacity, and some travelers report that they have had to arrange their own lodging or accept simple meal vouchers instead.
Rights also vary between domestic and international itineraries, and between full-service and low-cost airlines. While major carriers such as China Eastern and Air China have more established procedures for handling large-scale disruptions, smaller regional operators may have fewer resources on the ground. Passenger advocates therefore urge travelers to familiarize themselves with the conditions of carriage for their specific airline and fare type, and to document all interactions in case disputes arise later.
Looking Ahead: More Winter Turbulence Likely Before Conditions Ease
With several weeks of winter still ahead and multiple cold fronts forecast to sweep across northern and central China, aviation planners warn that similar disruption episodes are likely to recur. Even on days when skies are clear over Beijing or Shanghai, weather systems in the interior, along with air traffic management initiatives designed to ease congestion, can still slow operations and trigger rolling delays. The challenge for airlines will be to rebuild schedule resilience while managing costs and adapting to evolving demand on international and regional routes.
For travelers, the takeaway is clear: flexibility and preparation are increasingly essential when flying within or through China during the winter months. Booking longer connection windows, avoiding the last flight of the day where possible, and maintaining backup accommodation or alternative routing ideas can help reduce the stress when conditions deteriorate. While today’s tally of 35 cancellations and more than 1,100 delays is striking, industry veterans say it is likely to be only one of several such spikes before spring brings more stable weather and less turbulent skies.