Asia’s aviation sector witnessed a wave of flight cancellations this week as Garuda Indonesia, SriLankan Airlines, Mandarin Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, and China Express Airlines suspended key routes across domestic and international networks. The disruptions affected major hubs such as Jakarta, Colombo, Singapore, Doha, Amsterdam, Taipei, and several northern Chinese cities. As travellers navigated delays and rebookings, the cancellations highlighted the increasing operational strain, weather variability, and airspace pressure impacting Asia’s busiest travel corridors.
GARUDA INDONESIA: MULTIPLE JAKARTA–SUMATRA SERVICES CANCELLED
Cancelled Flights (Full Details)
- GIA180 — Boeing 737-800
Halim Perdanakusuma Int’l (HLP / WIHH) → Kuala Namu International (KNO / WIMM)
Scheduled: Wed 06:25 AM WIB - GIA181 — Boeing 737-800
Kuala Namu International (KNO / WIMM) → Halim Perdanakusuma Int’l (HLP / WIHH)
Scheduled: Wed 09:50 AM WIB - GIA162 — Boeing 737-800
Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta Int’l (CGK / WIII) → Minangkabau Int’l (PDG / WIEE)
Scheduled: Wed 02:50 PM WIB
Garuda Indonesia’s cancellations impacted vital domestic routes between Jakarta and Sumatra, affecting business travellers and regional commuters relying on morning and afternoon departures.
SRILANKAN AIRLINES: COLOMBO–SINGAPORE CONNECTIVITY DISRUPTED
Cancelled Flights (Full Details)
- ALK308 — Airbus A320
Bandaranaike Int’l (CMB / VCBI) → Singapore Changi (SIN / WSSS)
Scheduled: Tue 12:20 PM +0530 - ALK309 — Airbus A320
Singapore Changi (SIN / WSSS) → Bandaranaike Int’l (CMB / VCBI)
Scheduled: Tue 08:00 PM +08
This cancellation pair affected one of the region’s most high-demand hubs, interrupting both outbound and inbound passenger flows between Sri Lanka and Singapore.
MANDARIN AIRLINES: EVENING KINMEN–TAIPEI FLIGHT SUSPENDED
Cancelled Flight (Full Details)
- MDA1258 — ATR 72
Kinmen (KNH / RCBS) → Taipei Songshan (TSA / RCSS)
Scheduled: Mon 08:55 PM CST
The cancellation removed a key evening commuter service linking Kinmen with Taipei’s central business district airport.
MALAYSIA AIRLINES: LONG-HAUL & BORNEO DOMESTIC ROUTES IMPACTED
Cancelled Flights (Full Details)
- MAS6127 — Airbus A330-200
Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS / EHAM) → Hamad Int’l (DOH / OTHH)
Scheduled: Mon 01:50 PM CET - MAS3653 — ATR 72
Miri (MYY / WBGR) → Sibu (SBW / WBGS)
Scheduled: Tue 09:00 AM +08 - MAS3654 — ATR 72
Sibu (SBW / WBGS) → Miri (MYY / WBGR)
Scheduled: Tue 10:20 AM +08
Malaysia Airlines faced both long-haul European disruptions and additional pressure on short-haul routes in Sarawak, affecting commuter and business travel.
CHINA EXPRESS AIRLINES: NORTHERN NETWORK SEES WIDESPREAD CANCELLATIONS
Cancelled Flights (Full Details)
- HXA4781 — CRJ900
Shijiazhuang Zhengding Int’l (SJW / ZBSJ) → Zhangjiakou Ningyuan (ZQZ / ZBZJ)
Scheduled: Mon 07:25 PM CST - HXA4782 — CRJ900
Zhangjiakou Ningyuan (ZQZ / ZBZJ) → Shijiazhuang Zhengding Int’l (SJW / ZBSJ)
Scheduled: Mon 09:04 PM CST - HXA4914 — CRJ900
Shijiazhuang Zhengding Int’l (SJW / ZBSJ) → Baotou (BAV / ZBOW)
Scheduled: Mon 10:45 PM CST - HXA4471 — CRJ900
Tongliao (TGO / ZBTL) → Hailar Dongshan (HLD / ZBLA)
Scheduled: Tue 09:20 AM CST - HXA4472 — CRJ900
Hailar Dongshan (HLD / ZBLA) → Tongliao (TGO / ZBTL)
Scheduled: Tue 11:30 AM CST - HXA4472 — CRJ900
Tongliao (TGO / ZBTL) → Baotou (BAV / ZBOW)
Scheduled: Tue 01:30 PM CST - HXA4281 — CRJ900
Baotou (BAV / ZBOW) → Xilinhot (XIL / ZBXH)
Scheduled: Tue 03:30 PM CST - HXA4281 — CRJ900
Xilinhot (XIL / ZBXH) → Harbin Taiping Int’l (HRB / ZYHB)
Scheduled: Tue 05:25 PM CST - HXA4282 — CRJ900
Harbin Taiping Int’l (HRB / ZYHB) → Xilinhot (XIL / ZBXH)
Scheduled: Tue 08:00 PM CST - HXA4282 — CRJ900
Xilinhot (XIL / ZBXH) → Baotou (BAV / ZBOW)
Scheduled: Tue 10:35 PM CST
China Express experienced the highest number of cancellations, affecting a chain of interconnected regional routes across Inner Mongolia and northeastern China—regions highly dependent on air travel due to vast distances.
AIRPORT ANALYSIS: CONGESTION & WEATHER PRESSURE ACROSS DIVERSE REGIONS
Asia’s aviation network faced pressure at multiple touchpoints:
Major hubs affected:
- Singapore Changi
- Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta
- Amsterdam Schiphol
- Doha Hamad International
These hubs struggled with aircraft rotation delays and increased passenger traffic.
Regional airports affected:
- Kinmen
- Miri
- Sibu
- Shijiazhuang
- Baotou
- Harbin
- Xilinhot
- Tongliao
Limited apron capacity, weather swings, and high-frequency commuter services made regional disruptions more noticeable.
CAUSE OF CANCELLATION: MULTIPLE FACTORS ACROSS ASIA
The disruptions reflect combined issues, including:
- Adverse weather in northern China
- Aircraft rotation challenges across international fleets
- Crew availability constraints
- Seasonal travel surges affecting Southeast Asia and the Middle East
- Airspace flow restrictions in select regions
These operational pressures forced airlines to adjust schedules at short notice.
IMPACT ON TRAVELLERS: DELAYS, MISSED CONNECTIONS & LIMITED OPTIONS
Passengers experienced:
- Missed international and regional connections
- Longer layovers and overnight delays
- Difficulty securing same-day rebookings
- Reduced domestic connectivity in Indonesia, Malaysia, and China
- Congestion at major transfer hubs like Singapore, Doha, and Amsterdam
Travellers in remote Chinese regions faced additional challenges due to limited alternative ground transport.
ADVICE FOR PASSENGERS: HOW TO NAVIGATE DISRUPTIONS
Affected passengers should:
- Monitor flight status via official airline/airport channels
- Consider flexible rebooking options
- Arrive early to handle peak-hour congestion
- Keep SMS and email alerts active
- Check alternative nearby airports where possible
- Avoid relying solely on third-party apps for updates
Being proactive helps mitigate delays and rebooking challenges.
CONCLUSION: ASIA’S AIR ROUTES FACE RENEWED OPERATIONAL STRAIN
The cancellations across five major and regional Asian carriers highlight the current fragility within the region’s aviation ecosystem. As peak travel seasons intensify and weather patterns shift, similar disruptions may arise. Passengers are encouraged to remain flexible, stay informed through official sources, and prepare for changes as airlines work to restore full operational stability.
Source: Different Airports and FlightAware
The post Asia’s Flight Network Plunges into Disarray as Garuda Indonesia, SriLankan, Mandarin, Malaysia and China Express Airlines Face 19 Cancellations and 73 Delays, Disrupting Travel Plans in Jakarta, Taipei, Harbin and More Cities appeared first on Travel And Tour World.
