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Hundreds of Travellers Abandoned across China as Qatar Airways, Sichuan Airlines, China Express, Qingdao Airlines and Several other Carriers Face 383 Flight Delays and 36 Cancellations at Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing and more, New Update
In a series of significant disruptions to air travel across China, hundreds of passengers have found themselves stranded at major airports following the cancellation and delay of flights. Qatar Airways, Sichuan Airlines, China Express, Qingdao Airlines and several other carriers are facing a total of 383 flight delays and 36 cancellations at various airports in Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing, Harbin and Shache (Yarkant). The ongoing delays and cancellations have left travellers frustrated and anxious, with no immediate resolution in sight.
Major Airports Affected
The primary airports impacted by these disruptions are among the busiest in China. Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU), Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport (CKG), Harbin Taiping International Airport (HRB) and Shache Yarkant Airport (YNJ) have all experienced significant disruptions to their operations.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport, as one of Chinaβs most critical international gateways, has seen a considerable number of cancellations and delays. With 11 cancellations and 191 delays today alone, passengers flying with various airlines, including Qatar Airways and Sichuan Airlines, are facing long waits and confusion. The sheer scale of the disruptions at Shanghaiβs major terminals is causing a ripple effect, with travellers scrambling to rebook flights or find alternative means of transport.
| Airline | Cancellations | Cancellation % | Delays | Delay % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qatar Airways | 2 | 50% | 0 | 0% |
| Gulf Air | 2 | 100% | 0 | 0% |
| Emirates | 2 | 33% | 1 | 16% |
| China Eastern | 2 | 0% | 66 | 13% |
| Suparna Airlines | 2 | 7% | 4 | 14% |
| Hainan Airlines | 1 | 3% | 1 | 3% |
| Beijing Capital Airlines | 0 | 0% | 1 | 50% |
| Air China | 0 | 0% | 18 | 12% |
| Shandong Airlines | 0 | 0% | 1 | 10% |
| West Air | 0 | 0% | 2 | 50% |
| China Cargo | 0 | 0% | 3 | 10% |
| Cathay Pacific | 0 | 0% | 3 | 18% |
| Spring Airlines | 0 | 0% | 13 | 10% |
| Hong Kong Airlines | 0 | 0% | 1 | 12% |
| Sichuan Airlines | 0 | 0% | 3 | 17% |
| Shanghai Airlines | 0 | 0% | 28 | 19% |
| China Southern Airlines | 0 | 0% | 8 | 5% |
| SF Airlines | 0 | 0% | 3 | 16% |
| Shenzhen Airlines | 0 | 0% | 2 | 20% |
| China United Airlines | 0 | 0% | 1 | 20% |
| Delta Air Lines | 0 | 0% | 1 | 20% |
| Juneyao Airlines | 0 | 0% | 11 | 7% |
| Lufthansa | 0 | 0% | 1 | 25% |
| Eastarjet | 0 | 0% | 1 | 50% |
| EVA Air | 0 | 0% | 1 | 16% |
| Garuda Indonesia | 0 | 0% | 1 | 50% |
| Mahan Air | 0 | 0% | 1 | 100% |
| 9 Air | 0 | 0% | 1 | 20% |
| Kunming Airlines | 0 | 0% | 1 | 50% |
| Malaysia Airlines | 0 | 0% | 1 | 25% |
| Egypt Air | 0 | 0% | 1 | 100% |
| Nippon Cargo | 0 | 0% | 2 | 66% |
| Aurora | 0 | 0% | 1 | 50% |
| Thai Lion | 0 | 0% | 2 | 100% |
| United Airlines | 0 | 0% | 1 | 25% |
| VietJet Air | 0 | 0% | 1 | 50% |
| AirAsia X | 0 | 0% | 2 | 100% |
| Air Canada | 0 | 0% | 1 | 50% |
| Air India | 0 | 0% | 1 | 100% |
Chengdu, another vital hub in southwestern China, is similarly affected, with 8 cancellations and 92 delays recorded today. Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, recently opened as a major international gateway, has also witnessed flight operations significantly hampered, leaving both domestic and international passengers stranded.
| Airline | Cancellations | Cancellation % | Delays | Delay % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sichuan Airlines | 4 | 1% | 37 | 15% |
| Air China | 2 | 0% | 9 | 3% |
| China Eastern | 1 | 0% | 9 | 8% |
| Hainan Airlines | 1 | 2% | 0 | 0% |
| Colorful Guizhou | 0 | 0% | 2 | 16% |
| Spring Airlines | 0 | 0% | 1 | 3% |
| China Southern Airlines | 0 | 0% | 3 | 4% |
| Shenzhen Airlines | 0 | 0% | 8 | 24% |
| China United Airlines | 0 | 0% | 2 | 10% |
| XiamenAir | 0 | 0% | 3 | 15% |
| Ethiopian Airlines | 0 | 0% | 1 | 50% |
| Hebei Airlines | 0 | 0% | 1 | 25% |
| China Express Airlines | 0 | 0% | 1 | 10% |
| 9 Air | 0 | 0% | 2 | 33% |
| Lucky Air | 0 | 0% | 2 | 5% |
| Okay Airways | 0 | 0% | 3 | 50% |
| Chengdu Airlines | 0 | 0% | 2 | 4% |
| Air Macau | 0 | 0% | 1 | 50% |
| GX Airlines | 0 | 0% | 1 | 16% |
| Beijing Capital Airlines | 0 | 0% | 3 | 21% |
Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport (CKG) has not been spared either. With 4 cancellations and 66 delays reported today, passengers have been facing significant inconveniences. Airlines such as Sichuan Airlines and China Express Airlines have been hit particularly hard, resulting in a substantial disruption to travel plans.
| Airline | Cancellations | Cancellation % | Delays | Delay % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China Express Airlines | 3 | 4% | 5 | 8% |
| Qatar Airways | 1 | 100% | 0 | 0% |
| GX Airlines | 0 | 0% | 4 | 100% |
| Air China | 0 | 0% | 13 | 9% |
| Shandong Airlines | 0 | 0% | 3 | 7% |
| China Eastern | 0 | 0% | 11 | 12% |
| West Air | 0 | 0% | 7 | 6% |
| Jiangxi | 0 | 0% | 1 | 50% |
| Spring Airlines | 0 | 0% | 1 | 4% |
| Sichuan Airlines | 0 | 0% | 11 | 9% |
| Shanghai Airlines | 0 | 0% | 1 | 25% |
| Shenzhen Airlines | 0 | 0% | 2 | 8% |
| XiamenAir | 0 | 0% | 2 | 4% |
| Juneyao Airlines | 0 | 0% | 1 | 8% |
| Tianjin Airlines | 0 | 0% | 1 | 4% |
| Lucky Air | 0 | 0% | 1 | 10% |
| Tibet Airlines | 0 | 0% | 2 | 14% |
At Harbin Taiping International Airport, the situation is no less critical. While the number of cancellations is lower here, with only 5 flights cancelled, there have been 33 delays recorded today. Airlines operating out of Harbin, including China Express Airlines and Sichuan Airlines, have been affected.
| Airline | Cancellations | Cancellation % | Delays | Delay % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sichuan Airlines | 3 | 8% | 3 | 8% |
| Qingdao Airlines | 2 | 16% | 0 | 0% |
| Air China | 0 | 0% | 2 | 5% |
| Zhejiang Loong | 0 | 0% | 1 | 4% |
| Shandong Airlines | 0 | 0% | 1 | 6% |
| China Eastern | 0 | 0% | 7 | 15% |
| Hainan Airlines | 0 | 0% | 1 | 4% |
| Shenzhen Airlines | 0 | 0% | 2 | 9% |
| XiamenAir | 0 | 0% | 3 | 10% |
| Fuzhou Airlines | 0 | 0% | 2 | 18% |
| China Express Airlines | 0 | 0% | 2 | 100% |
| 9 Air | 0 | 0% | 3 | 30% |
| Okay Airways | 0 | 0% | 2 | 100% |
| Spring Airlines Japan | 0 | 0% | 1 | 50% |
| Chengdu Airlines | 0 | 0% | 1 | 4% |
| Asiana | 0 | 0% | 1 | 50% |
| GX Airlines | 0 | 0% | 1 | 50% |
Meanwhile, in the far-western region of China, Shache Yarkant Airport has faced its share of delays and cancellations. The airport has recorded 8 cancellations and a single delay, further underscoring the widespread nature of this disruption that spans the country from east to west.
| Airline | Cancellations | Cancellation % | Delays | Delay % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China Express Airlines | 4 | 33% | 1 | 8% |
| Chengdu Airlines | 4 | 40% | 0 | 0% |
Impacted Airlines
A wide range of domestic and international carriers are affected by these delays and cancellations. Among the most heavily impacted airlines are Qatar Airways, Sichuan Airlines, China Express Airlines, Qingdao Airlines and several others. Qatar Airways, known for its vast network across Europe, Asia and the Middle East, has had to cancel multiple flights to and from China, contributing to the already stressful situation at Shanghai Pudong International Airport. The 100% cancellation rate of Qatar Airways flights today has significantly contributed to the overall disruption.
Sichuan Airlines, a regional carrier with a significant presence in Chengdu, has also been severely affected, with multiple delays and cancellations recorded today at Chengdu Tianfu International Airport. Sichuan Airlinesβ passengers, especially those with connections in Chengdu, are facing extensive wait times, adding to the frustration for travellers relying on the airline to get to their destinations.
Other regional carriers like China Express Airlines and Qingdao Airlines are also experiencing disruption across China, with cancellations affecting various cities. For example, China Express Airlines has reported 4 cancellations at Shache Yarkant Airport and significant delays across other airports, further compounding the strain on Chinaβs air transport system.
Notably, domestic giants such as China Eastern Airlines, Air China and Shandong Airlines are also facing delays at major airports in cities like Shanghai, Chengdu and Harbin. With multiple flights delayed or cancelled, passengers are left with few options but to navigate the uncertainty and attempt to secure new flight schedules.
Probable Impact on Local Tourism
The flight disruptions are not only affecting passengers in transit but also have far-reaching consequences for local tourism in the cities affected by the delays and cancellations. Major cities such as Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing, Harbin and Shache (Yarkant) rely heavily on air traffic to fuel their tourism industries and these disruptions could lead to significant losses.
Shanghai, a global business hub and one of Chinaβs most popular tourist destinations, is expected to experience a decline in short-term tourism. Many tourists travelling for business and leisure are facing interruptions to their itineraries, potentially leading to reduced bookings in hotels, restaurants and other service industries in the city. The ripple effect of these disruptions could extend to nearby cities and regions reliant on tourists flying into Shanghai as a gateway.
Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, is known for its unique cultural heritage, including its famous giant pandas and rich culinary scene. With Chengdu Tianfu International Airport bearing the brunt of the disruptions, the tourism sector may see a short-term decline, especially in the run-up to peak travel seasons. Similarly, Chongqing and Harbin, both popular tourist destinations, could also suffer as travellers look to reschedule their visits or avoid uncertain air travel altogether.
In the case of Shache (Yarkant), a region with emerging tourism potential due to its unique geography and culture, the impact may be more acute. The region relies on limited flight routes and any disruption to these services can severely disrupt both local tourism and the local economy.
What Affected Passengers Can Do Now
For affected passengers, it is crucial to stay updated and communicate with airlines regularly. Given the ongoing disruptions, most airlines are advising travellers to check for any updates on flight statuses via official airline channels. Passengers are also encouraged to ensure they have access to updated contact details and to check if their flights are eligible for rebooking, compensation, or refunds.
Airlines may also provide accommodation or meal vouchers for passengers who have been stranded due to significant delays, particularly for those who are forced to spend the night at the airport. In the case of Qatar Airways and other international carriers, passengers are advised to keep in touch with their embassies or consulates for additional support, especially for those on long-haul flights.
Travellers should also consider alternative transport options, including train or bus services, to reach their destinations if possible. For those still in major cities like Shanghai, Chengdu, or Harbin, it might be beneficial to explore local tourism options while waiting for their flights to be rescheduled.
-The information provided is sourced from FlightAware.
The post Hundreds of Travellers Abandoned across China as Qatar Airways, Sichuan Airlines, China Express, Qingdao Airlines and Several other Carriers Face 383 Flight Delays and 36 Cancellations at Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing and more, New Update appeared first on Travel And Tour World.