Thousands of passengers across Asia were left stranded on Thursday, May 7, as major airlines cancelled a total of 194 flights and delayed another 2,603, causing widespread disruption at key travel hubs. The chaos affected airports in Thailand, Singapore, India, China, South Korea, and Malaysia, with reports indicating that the disruptions were among the most severe seen in recent months.
Worst-Affected Airports
Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, India, bore the brunt of the disruptions, recording 365 delays. Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan, was the second most affected, with 282 delays. Other airports that experienced significant disruptions include Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Singapore Changi Airport, Incheon International Airport, and Kunming Changshui International Airport.
Airlines Hit Hardest
Shanghai Airlines was the worst-affected carrier, forced to cancel 58 flights. Other airlines that faced major cancellations and delays include IndiGo, Air India, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, SpiceJet, AirAsia, Singapore Airlines, and Thai Airways.
Possible Causes of Disruption
The exact reason for the widespread aviation disruptions remains unclear, but airlines globally have raised concerns over jet fuel costs and supply. The jet fuel supply chain has been severely impacted by the ongoing US-Iran war, which escalated after the US and Israel conducted joint strikes on key Iranian sites on February 28. In retaliation, Iran struck targets across the Middle East and closed the critical Strait of Hormuz trade route, through which 20% of the world's oil passes. This has choked global oil supply and subsequently affected flight operations.
Impact on UK Travelers
In the United Kingdom, travellers may find their flights rescheduled as the government relaxes a rule that airlines rarely risk breaking. Transport Department officials have indicated that airlines might consider scrapping certain services following a temporary rule change that allows carriers to merge flights and combine passengers. This measure aims to reduce the total number of aircraft departures, preserve jet fuel, and reassure holidaymakers that trips will not be cancelled entirely. Rather than axing flights at short notice, the idea is to minimise wasted fuel from flying near-empty planes. To maximise the use of airport departures, airlines would reassess their schedules and could transfer passengers from under-booked services onto similar flights.
