Around Four Hundred Thousand Travelers Affected As 2500 New Flights Are Cancelled Across Europe, Asia, Americas, Middle East Causing Major Disruptions Including Cathay Pacific, Air France, American, Emirates, Jal, Air Canada

Published on September 24, 2025

By: Rana Pratap

Around 4 100 1000 travelers are affected arsenic 2,500 flights are canceled crossed Europe, Asia, nan Americas, and nan Middle East, chiefly owed to Typhoon Ragasa successful Asia, bad upwind successful nan Americas, and strikes successful Europe, pinch awesome disruptions to airlines for illustration Cathay Pacific, Air France, American Airlines, Emirates, JAL, and Air Canada. Can you ideate getting fresh for that long-awaited picnic aliases an important business trip, only to find retired astatine nan past infinitesimal that your flight’s been canceled? And it’s not conscionable your flight—thousands of others are grounded too. That’s nan reality correct now for travelers each complete nan world. With truthful galore flights canceled, passengers are near scrambling for alternatives, while airports are overflowing pinch disappointment travelers, conscionable hoping to get wherever they request to be. It’s a complete recreation nightmare, and nan business doesn’t look to beryllium improving anytime soon.

So, what caused this chaos? Let’s break it down and look astatine nan guidelines causes of nan cancellations and delays, really different regions are coping, and nan far-reaching effects of this unprecedented mess.

Asia: Typhoon Ragasa Causes Chaos successful nan Skies

Asia has been nan hardest deed by this disruption. The main culprit? Typhoon Ragasa. This powerful large wind has wreaked havoc crossed nan region, particularly successful Greater China and different parts of East and Southeast Asia. When typhoons for illustration Ragasa travel through, they bring much than conscionable rain—they bring chaos to nan skies, forcing airlines to cancel and hold flights owed to mediocre visibility, precocious winds, and vulnerable conditions.

In Greater China, nan storm’s fury has grounded thousands of flights. China Southern Airlines was 1 of nan astir affected, pinch a staggering 675 cancellations (28%) and 248 delays (10%). That’s nan highest number of cancellations from immoderate hose successful nan full region. Cathay Pacific, based successful Hong Kong, faced nan highest cancellation percentage, pinch 315 flights (74%) canceled and only 23 delayed. This meant thousands of passengers successful Hong Kong were near stranded, galore of them trying to fig retired really to get to their adjacent destination arsenic their flights were grounded.

And it wasn’t conscionable Cathay Pacific. China Eastern Airlines and Air China followed closely, pinch 252 and 212 cancellations, respectively. These are immense carriers that grip a batch of world flights, truthful nan ripple effect of these cancellations has been massive, particularly for travelers trying to get to Europe aliases nan U.S.

But it wasn’t conscionable China. Hong Kong Airlines had a staggering 73% of its flights canceled (49 total), while Spring Airlines besides saw a precocious number of cancellations. And airports for illustration Hong Kong International (HKG) and Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) were immoderate of nan worst hit, pinch flights perpetually delayed aliases grounded for information reasons.

Asia-Pacific: Typhoon Ragasa Causes Havoc Across nan Skies

Asia was deed nan hardest by this monolithic recreation disruption, pinch Typhoon Ragasa starring to a important number of cancellations and delays. From Greater China to Southeast Asia and Oceania, nan storm’s effect was widespread, leaving passengers stranded and unsure of their adjacent steps.

Greater China: A Typhoon-Torn Region

In Greater China, nan worst-hit airlines were Cathay Pacific, China Southern Airlines, and China Eastern Airlines.

• Cathay Pacific (Hong Kong) saw a staggering 315 cancellations (74%) and 23 delays (5%), chiefly owed to Typhoon Ragasa. As nan large wind caused chaos successful Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific was forced to crushed hundreds of flights, some home and international.
• China Southern Airlines (Guangzhou) had 675 cancellations (28%) and 248 delays (10%), making it nan hose pinch nan highest number of cancellations crossed Asia. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, nan airline’s main hub, saw thousands of travelers stranded, trying to find replacement flights aliases rebooking options.
• China Eastern Airlines (Shanghai), pinch 252 cancellations (10%) and 257 delays (10%), besides struggled to support flights connected schedule. As Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport (PVG) is simply a cardinal world gateway, these cancellations affected long-haul travelers, particularly connected routes to Europe and nan U.S.
• Air China besides faced disruptions pinch 212 cancellations (11%) and 171 delays (9%), arsenic nan large wind caused delays not only successful China but besides affected world flights from Beijing to Europe, nan Middle East, and beyond.

Southeast Asia & Oceania: Weather Woes and Operational Struggles

In Southeast Asia, AirAsia had 18 cancellations (3%) and 199 delays (36%). The airline, which operates a ample fleet crossed Malaysia and Southeast Asia, was caught up successful nan typhoon’s aftermath, affecting some location flights and long-haul operations.

Singapore Airlines saw 6 cancellations (1%) and 49 delays (14%) arsenic Typhoon Ragasa impacted operations, peculiarly connected routes to China and different affected Asian destinations.

In Oceania, Air New Zealand was deed pinch 8 cancellations (1%) and 103 delays (20%), arsenic nan storms disrupted flights crossed nan Pacific. Travelers to and from New Zealand were importantly impacted, pinch delays particularly notable connected world connections.

Europe: Strikes and Snowstorms Add Fuel to nan Fire

Europe wasn’t immune to this recreation chaos. In fact, nan disruption successful Europe came from a operation of business action and bad weather. KLM, nan Netherlands’ flagship airline, had to cancel 134 flights (19%) and hold 202 (28%) because of a ground unit strike. The onslaught made it astir intolerable for KLM to run its accustomed schedule, peculiarly affecting passengers flying to awesome European destinations.

The upwind wasn’t immoderate better. Heavy snowstorms and freezing temperatures successful parts of Northern Europe, peculiarly successful countries for illustration Germany, France, and nan UK, caused delays and cancellations. Air France, for example, had to cancel 5 flights (0%) but saw 148 delays (22%), leaving travelers stuck astatine Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport for hours, uncertain of erstwhile they would beryllium capable to fly.

easyJet—one of nan busiest fund carriers successful Europe—also struggled pinch delays, reporting 634 delays (33%) and 9 cancellations. Though they weren’t deed arsenic difficult arsenic KLM aliases Air France, nan sheer number of delays created a awesome headache for travelers.

But it wasn’t conscionable nan upwind and strikes—these cancellations besides created a domino effect that deed smaller airports crossed Europe. Brussels Airlines reported a monolithic 43% hold rate, pinch passengers astatine Brussels Airport (BRU) facing hours-long waits. Vueling Airlines and Lufthansa were besides affected, though to a somewhat lesser extent.

Europe: Strikes and Weather Chaos Add to nan Delays

In Europe, nan disruption was mostly caused by ground unit strikes and bad weather. With snowstorms and business action affecting airports crossed nan continent, airlines for illustration KLM, easyJet, and Air France had to crushed flights aliases hold services for hours.

Western Europe: Strikes and Snow Disrupt Operations

KLM (Netherlands), pinch 134 cancellations (19%) and 202 delays (28%), faced important issues owed to a ground unit strike successful Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS). The business action, mixed pinch wintertime weather, caused terrible delays for passengers walking from awesome European hubs for illustration Paris, London, and Frankfurt.

• easyJet (UK), which had 9 cancellations (0%) and 634 delays (33%), saw nan highest number of delays wide successful Europe. Although they had less cancellations, nan sheer number of delayed flights near travelers waiting for hours and scrambling for alternatives.
• Air France (France), pinch 5 cancellations (0%) and 148 delays (22%), besides faced disruptions owed to dense snowfall and strikes. The hose struggled to support normal operations, leaving passengers stuck astatine Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) and different French airports.
• Brussels Airlines (Belgium) faced 22 cancellations (8%) and 108 delays (43%), making it nan hose pinch nan highest hold percent successful Europe. The airline’s operations successful Brussels Airport (BRU) were severely impacted by nan operation of strikes and bad weather.

Eastern Europe: Affected but Less Severely

In Eastern Europe, nan disruptions were little widespread, but still notable. UTair (Russia) had 4 cancellations (2%) and 38 delays (24%), pinch flights to and from Moscow facing nan brunt of nan delays. TAROM (Romania) besides had 2 cancellations (2%) and 6 delays (7%), though nan effect was little terrible than that successful Western Europe.

The Americas: Bad Weather Causes Major Disruptions

When you deliberation of disruptions successful nan U.S. and Canada, bad upwind is often nan biggest culprit—and this time, it was nary different. American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta each saw important delays and cancellations owed to terrible thunderstorms, snowstorms, and dense rainfall successful various parts of nan U.S. American Airlines, for instance, canceled 2 flights (0%) but faced 212 delays (7%), causing headaches for passengers successful hubs for illustration Dallas/Fort Worth and Chicago O’Hare.

Travelers flying from Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), and New York (JFK) were particularly impacted, pinch formation schedules wholly messed up. Bad upwind successful California led to 30% delays and formation cancellations crossed aggregate airlines, while wintertime storms caused moreover much headaches successful nan Northeast and Midwest.

While U.S. airlines were scrambling to accommodate passengers, Canadian carriers weren’t spared either. Air Canada faced 11 cancellations and 54 delays, and WestJet saw akin disruptions, leaving travelers pinch constricted options for rebooking. As 1 of nan astir reliable regions for aerial travel, nan United States and Canada’s wide upwind issues person surely made this business worse.

The Americas: Bad Weather and Winter Storms Cause Chaos

In North America, bad weather—particularly snowstorms and thunderstorms—caused wide disruptions. These storms led to delays and cancellations successful awesome U.S. airports for illustration Chicago O’Hare and Dallas/Fort Worth, affecting carriers for illustration American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines.

United States: Affected by Severe Weather Conditions

• American Airlines had 2 cancellations (0%) and 212 delays (7%), pinch Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) being 1 of nan worst-hit airports. Thunderstorms and snowstorms caused awesome delays crossed nan U.S. East Coast, Midwest, and parts of nan South.
• United Airlines knowledgeable 12 cancellations (0%) and 163 delays (5%), pinch passengers connected routes crossed nan U.S. facing lengthy waits. Airports for illustration Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and San Francisco International (SFO) were affected by bad weather, starring to rerouted flights and cancellations.
• Delta Air Lines, though not featured successful nan high-disruption data, besides saw important delays successful its operations, peculiarly connected flights originating from aliases going to nan Northeast and nan Midwest, wherever snowstorms were causing havoc.

Canada: Disruptions Continue Across nan Border

In Canada, Air Canada had 11 cancellations and 54 delays, pinch Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) facing operational challenges. Winter upwind impacted aerial traffic, creating delays for passengers flying some domestically and internationally.

Middle East: Storm Ripple Effects and Bad Weather

As if nan large wind successful Asia wasn’t enough, nan Middle East besides saw its stock of delays and cancellations, mostly because of nan ripple effects of Typhoon Ragasa. Emirates and Qatar Airways had to cancel and hold flights owed to storm-induced disruptions that reached their airspace. Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Hamad International Airport (DOH) were severely impacted, pinch Emirates reporting 6 cancellations (1%) and 50 delays (9%).

The effects weren’t confined to Asia aliases nan Middle East either. The ongoing upwind issues successful Asia and Europe besides trickled into nan Middle East, causing knock-on delays for long-haul flights from Dubai to Hong Kong, Shanghai, and moreover European destinations. Passengers walking from nan Middle East to Asia and backmost recovered themselves stuck successful crowded airports, waiting for flights that kept getting delayed.

Middle East: Ripple Effects from Typhoon Ragasa

The Middle East region, while not straight affected by Typhoon Ragasa, felt nan effects of nan large wind arsenic it disrupted formation schedules and rerouted aircraft.

• Emirates (UAE) had 6 cancellations (1%) and 50 delays (9%), pinch flights from Dubai International Airport (DXB) facing delays owed to nan ripple effect from nan typhoon successful Asia. These delays affected passengers walking to Asia, Europe, and Africa.
• Qatar Airways (Qatar) saw 6 cancellations (0%) and 60 delays (9%), peculiarly affecting long-haul flights betwixt Doha and Asia. Hamad International Airport (DOH) knowledgeable important postulation delays arsenic craft were rerouted to debar nan storm’s aftermath.

The Global Impact: Travelers Left successful Limbo

With complete 2,500 flights canceled and much than 13,000 delays worldwide, travelers are facing a world nightmare. Whether it’s a typhoon successful Asia, a onslaught successful Europe, aliases bad upwind successful nan Americas, nan business has near passengers stranded successful airports crossed nan world. Hong Kong, Paris, Brussels, London, Chicago, and Miami person each seen thousands of delayed passengers, while airdrome unit activity tirelessly to rebook flights and negociate customer service.

One of nan astir frustrating aspects of this disruption is nan deficiency of timely communication. Passengers are often near successful nan acheronian astir erstwhile aliases moreover if they will get connected different flight, pinch immoderate group being stranded for days, particularly if their flights were canceled owed to weather-related issues. The ripple effect from Asia to Europe and nan Americas has caused a world concatenation guidance of delays, making it consciousness for illustration nan full aerial recreation strategy has travel to a halt.

The Toll connected Airlines and nan Travel Industry

This level of disruption is taking a immense toll connected nan airlines involved. While passengers look monolithic inconveniences, airlines are looking astatine millions of dollars successful losses owed to rebooking costs, compensation claims, and nan wide chaos of trying to reschedule flights. Cathay Pacific, American Airlines, and Emirates person each pledged to connection compensation and rebooking options for affected passengers, but nan standard of nan disruption intends this is nary mini task.

The ripple effect has besides deed tourism hard. With truthful galore flights canceled, travelers are reconsidering their plans, canceling vacations, and delaying business trips. The financial effect connected nan world recreation and tourism manufacture is expected to beryllium significant, particularly for airlines that were already struggling post-pandemic.

The Road to Recovery: What’s Being Done?

So, what’s being done to hole this? Well, airlines are moving astir nan timepiece to rebook affected passengers, supply repast and edifice vouchers, and connection afloat refunds wherever necessary. However, fixed nan standard of nan chaos, it’s going to return weeks for galore airlines to get backmost connected track.

Cathay Pacific and American Airlines are offering compensation for affected travelers, including rebooking flights and offering afloat refunds for passengers who take not to fly. KLM and Air France are moving difficult to resoluteness nan strike-related disruptions, and astir European carriers are focusing connected clearing nan backlogs caused by bad upwind and strikes.

ChatGPT said:

Around 4 100 1000 travelers are affected arsenic 2,500 flights are canceled crossed Europe, Asia, nan Americas, and nan Middle East, chiefly owed to Typhoon Ragasa successful Asia, bad upwind successful nan Americas, and strikes successful Europe. Airlines for illustration Cathay Pacific, Air France, American Airlines, Emirates, JAL, and Air Canada are each facing awesome disruptions.

Conclusion: A Wake-Up Call for nan Travel Industry

This monolithic disruption has been a wake-up telephone for nan world aerial recreation industry. Airlines and airports request to return a long, difficult look astatine really they grip crises, particularly erstwhile it comes to communication, customer service, and contingency planning. The adjacent clip a large wind aliases business action threatens world aerial travel, nan dream is that nan manufacture will beryllium amended prepared to minimize nan chaos and get passengers wherever they request to go—safely and efficiently. For now, it’s a waiting crippled for millions of stranded travelers, hoping that their rebooked flights will beryllium nan ones that yet get them to their destination.