Asia Hit by Widespread Flight Disruptions

Major hubs under strain

Photo: Travel and tour world

Air travel across Asia faced severe disruption on January 28, 2026, as six countries recorded nearly 3,000 schedule irregularities. Thailand, Japan, Singapore, India, Malaysia and Indonesia collectively logged 2,903 delays and 72 cancellations, leaving thousands of passengers stranded at some of the region’s busiest airports.

Congestion hotspots

Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi emerged as the most affected hub, with 696 delays and 17 cancellations. Significant disruption was also reported at Singapore Changi, Kuala Lumpur International, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, Mumbai and Jakarta. While some airports avoided cancellations altogether, extreme congestion resulted in prolonged delays and missed connections.

Airlines affected across the board

Both low-cost and full-service carriers were impacted. IndiGO recorded the highest number of disruptions, followed by Singapore Airlines, AirAsia group carriers, Scoot and Batik Air. Other major operators, including Air India, Thai Airways, Malaysia Airlines, ANA, Japan Airlines and Garuda Indonesia, also reported notable delays, underscoring the systemic nature of the disruption.

Delays over cancellations

The imbalance between delays and cancellations points to operational congestion rather than mass groundings. Airlines largely opted to hold flights rather than cancel them, highlighting the strain on airport capacity and air traffic management systems as travel demand remains elevated.

Regional ripple effects

Beyond primary hubs, secondary airports such as Tokyo Haneda, Chengdu Tianfu, Phuket and regional Japanese and Chinese airports also experienced operational pressure. This extended the disruption across international and domestic networks throughout Asia.

Conclusion

According to International Investment experts, the scale of Asia’s flight delays highlights growing stress on aviation infrastructure as passenger volumes normalize. For airlines, the disruptions translate into higher costs and operational risk, while for investors, 2026 will increasingly hinge on efficiency, airport capacity and resilience across the aviation sector.