Air China and China Eastern hit by 2,693 flight disruptions across Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou

Disruption overview

A rolling disruption across China's aviation network has affected 2,693 flights since 16 June 2026, hitting major hubs in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and several other cities while Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, and Hainan Airlines work to recover delayed aircraft and crews. Most of the disruption has come from delays, but 268 flights were canceled as pressure spread through airports including Beijing Capital, Beijing Daxing, Guangzhou Baiyun, Shanghai Pudong, and Shanghai Hongqiao. If your journey was affected, it's worth checking your rights carefully: some international flights that fall under EC 261 may qualify for compensation, while rebooking, refunds, meals, and overnight care may also apply depending on your route and circumstances.

Disruption details

China's aviation network saw 2,693 flight disruptions on 16 June 2026, with Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, and Hainan Airlines among the hardest-hit carriers as delays and cancellations spread through major hubs including Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. For passengers, this meant missed connections, longer waits, and plans changing at short notice.

Across one operating day, 2,425 flights were delayed and 268 were canceled. The disruption began on 16 June 2026 and was still active when the latest figures were published, with no clear end date yet. Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, and Hainan Airlines have been trying to recover schedules by repositioning aircraft and crews as the backlog grows.

The biggest pressure points were at some of China's busiest hubs:

• Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) recorded 405 delays and 58 cancellations.

• Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) recorded 225 delays and 60 cancellations.

• Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) logged 479 delays and 35 cancellations, the highest delay total of the day.

• Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) reported 249 delays and 12 cancellations.

• Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) saw 185 delays and 16 cancellations.

Knock-on disruption also spread to Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (HGH), Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport (CKG), Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU), Haikou Meilan International Airport (HAK), Hohhot Baita International Airport (HET), Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport (KWE), and Nanchang Changbei International Airport (KHN). That shows how quickly problems at a few core hubs can affect flights across the country.

The cause has been described as severe operational strain rather than a single outside event. No weather system, strike action, or air traffic control shutdown has been identified. Instead, the disruption appears to be tied to internal operational pressure that left aircraft rotations and crews out of position.

That's especially hard to absorb in a tightly sequenced hub-and-spoke network. When one busy hub falls behind, the effect can ripple through later sectors, putting added pressure on ground handling, baggage services, boarding, and customer support desks.

For travelers, the disruption has gone well beyond the departure board. Terminal congestion has been worsening, some passengers have missed onward connections, and others have had to give up parts of their trip altogether. Both business and leisure travel have been affected, with some people left spending the night in terminals.

If you're affected, airlines are urging customers to use their mobile apps to rebook and track schedule changes. It's also worth asking for an official delay or cancellation certificate, as you may need that paperwork for travel insurance claims.

When delays are within an airline's control, overnight hotel accommodation should be provided, although capacity is under pressure while the disruption continues. Depending on your route and circumstances, you may also be entitled to rebooking or a refund, plus meals and other essential care during a long wait.

Because the current cause has been described as internal operational strain, some international flights that fall under EC 261 may still qualify for compensation, while purely domestic itineraries within China generally won't. If your trip was disrupted, keep your booking details, receipts, and written confirmation from the airline, and check your rights carefully. AirHelp's free flight checker is a simple way to see whether compensation or other support may apply to your journey.

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