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Today — 22 February 2026Main stream

China in Travel Crisis as Airports in Xilinhot, Hohhot, Chifeng, Harbin and Several other Cities Face 58 Flight Cancellations and 223 Delays by China Express, Tianjin, Chengdu Airlines and others, New Update

22 February 2026 at 02:55
China in Travel Crisis as Airports in Xilinhot, Hohhot, Chifeng, Harbin and Several other Cities Face 58 Flight Cancellations and 223 Delays by China Express, Tianjin, Chengdu Airlines and others, New Update

A sudden wave of logistical challenges is currently sweeping through Northern China, fundamentally altering the regional travel landscape. Major aviation hubs are grappling with significant disruptions that leave thousands of passengers stranded. In Hohhot, the surge in flight delays has reached a critical peak, while Xilinhot and Chifeng face a staggering number of grounded aircraft. Meanwhile, travelers in Harbin encounter similar setbacks as schedules fluctuate by the hour. These operational hurdles extend beyond the primary cities into smaller regional ports. Airports in Erenhot, Jiagedaqi and Heihe have reported multiple cancellations, cutting off vital transit links. Even in the far west, the facility at Shache mirrors this instability. There’s a total of 58 flight cancellations and 223 delays reported. This report examines the specific data behind these interruptions. We highlight how these localized delays create a massive ripple effect across the entire national transportation network.

Major Airports Affected

The scale of the disruption is most visible when examining the specific hubs involved. In China, the airport in Xilinhot has emerged as a focal point of the crisis, where 16 cancellations and 19 delays were officially logged. However, the most significant volume of impeded travel was observed at Hohhot Baita International Airport. While only 10 cancellations were reported there, an overwhelming 116 delays were documented, representing the highest concentration of scheduling setbacks in the region.

Further east, the aviation facilities in Chifeng recorded 11 cancellations and 21 delays, contributing further to the regional bottleneck. In Harbin Taiping International Airport, a critical gateway for the Heilongjiang province, 6 cancellations and 56 delays were confirmed. The disruption also extended into more remote sectors; Erenhot Saiwusu International Airport reported 5 cancellations and 6 delays, while Jiagedaqi and Heihe faced 4 cancellations each. Even in the far west, Shache Airport was not spared, with 2 cancellations and 4 delays noted in the latest reports.

Impacted Airlines

The operational burden of these cancellations and delays is being carried by several prominent domestic carriers.

China Express Airlines has been identified as the most heavily affected entity. Across the network — specifically in Xilinhot, Hohhot, Chifeng and Erenhot — the airline accounted for 35 total cancellations and 23 delays. The concentrated nature of these figures suggests a significant strain on the carrier’s regional short-haul network.

Tianjin Airlines also faced notable hurdles, particularly within the Hohhot and Xilinhot sectors, where 5 cancellations and 18 delays were attributed to their operations. In the northern reaches of China, Chengdu Airlines reported 14 cancellations and 5 delays, with the majority of these instances occurring in Harbin, Jiagedaqi and Heihe. Other carriers, including Genghis Khan Airlines and Juneyao Airlines, were also drawn into the crisis, though their reported figures remained lower, with Genghis Khan seeing 2 cancellations in Xilinhot and Juneyao recording 1 cancellation and 4 delays in Chifeng.

Beyond these specific figures, delays were being experienced by several other Airlines, like Air China, Hainan Airlines, China Eastern, Shandong Airlines,, Beijing Capital Airlines and more.

Probable Impact on Local Tourism

When such a large volume of travel is interrupted, the local tourism infrastructure in these cities is inevitably strained. In Xilinhot and Chifeng, which serve as gateways to the vast grasslands of Inner Mongolia, the arrival of visitors is being hampered by the high rate of cancellations. When flights are grounded, hotel bookings are often forfeited and local tour operators face immediate logistical gaps.

The situation in Hohhot is particularly concerning for the tourism sector due to the sheer number of delays. With over 100 flights behind schedule, the throughput of passengers into the city is being severely throttled, leading to congestion at the Baita International Airport and a slowdown in transit-related commerce. Similarly, in Harbin, a city renowned for its seasonal tourism, the 56 delays and 6 cancellations mean that the steady flow of travelers required to sustain local hospitality businesses is currently being interrupted. In smaller hubs like Heihe and Jiagedaqi, where flight frequencies are already limited, even a few cancellations can result in a near-total halt of incoming tourism for the day.

What Affected Passengers Can Do Now

For those currently caught in this travel crisis within China, several professional recommendations are offered based on standard aviation protocols. Passengers at Xilinhot, Hohhot, Chifeng, Harbin and other impacted sites are advised to maintain constant communication with their respective airlines.

  1. Verification of Flight Status: Before departing for the airport, the status of the flight should be verified via official airline mobile applications or websites. This is especially critical for those flying with China Express or Chengdu Airlines, given their high cancellation rates.
  2. In-Airport Assistance: For travelers already at the terminal, ground staff from Tianjin Airlines, Juneyao and other carriers should be consulted regarding rebooking options. Under standard passenger rights, alternative routing or domestic transfers may be requested.
  3. Documentation for Claims: Every delay and cancellation should be documented. Official notices issued by the airport authorities in cities like Hohhot or Harbin are essential for those seeking travel insurance claims or ticket refunds.
  4. Accommodation Arrangements: In instances where delays exceed several hours or result in overnight stays—particularly in high-delay hubs like Hohhot—inquiries should be made regarding the provision of meals and hotel vouchers as per the airline’s carriage policy.

-The information provided is sourced from FlightAware.

The post China in Travel Crisis as Airports in Xilinhot, Hohhot, Chifeng, Harbin and Several other Cities Face 58 Flight Cancellations and 223 Delays by China Express, Tianjin, Chengdu Airlines and others, New Update appeared first on Travel And Tour World.
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