Published Date: December 15,2025
Air travel across China has faced significant disruption over the past two days, with hundreds of passengers affected by cancellations and long delays at major airports. China Eastern Airlines has reported serious operational challenges, including the cancellation of 20 flights and delays impacting nearly 300 services.
The disruptions have primarily affected travel on Sunday, December 14, and Monday, December 15, 2025, creating uncertainty for both domestic and connecting international passengers.
Major Airports Under Pressure
Several of China’s busiest aviation hubs have been hit hard by the situation. Flights operating to and from the following cities have experienced the most disruption:
Shanghai (Hongqiao and Pudong International Airports)
Beijing (Capital International Airport and Daxing International Airport)
Chengdu
Nanjing
Chongqing
In addition to these major centers, delays have extended to other key cities such as Guangzhou, Nanning, Jingzhou, and Xi’an, causing ripple effects across the broader airline network.
What’s Behind the Disruptions
Although airlines have not yet issued a detailed official explanation, the situation appears to be linked to challenging weather conditions across several regions of China. Reports from the aviation sector point to heavy rain, snowfall, and reduced visibility in northern and central parts of the country. These conditions have forced airlines to slow operations and, in some cases, ground aircraft to maintain safety standards.
Operational congestion at major hubs has further worsened the situation, making it difficult for airlines to recover schedules quickly.
Impact on Passengers
With dozens of cancellations and hundreds of delayed flights, thousands of travelers have been affected. Many passengers are facing missed connections, unexpected overnight stays, and disruptions to ground transportation plans. Airlines are advising travelers to monitor flight status closely and allow extra time at airports as operations gradually stabilize.
Passengers planning to travel through affected airports are encouraged to check with their airline before leaving for the airport and be prepared for possible schedule changes.