Air travel across Asia faced major disruption, with more than 1,400 flights delayed and 67 services cancelled, leaving thousands of passengers stuck at airports for hours.
The disruption has been linked to unprecedented pressure on airspace across Asia and Gulf countries in recent days. Busy hubs such as Delhi, Singapore, Dubai and Tokyo were reported to be operating below capacity as delays cascaded through schedules.
Officials and industry sources cited multiple factors behind the chaos. Airspace restrictions linked to the war between Iran and the United States have forced many international flights to reroute, increasing journey times and fuel costs.
At the same time, peak summer travel demand and staff shortages at airports have affected aircraft turnaround cycles, worsening knock-on delays across cities. Rising fuel prices amid the conflict have also added pressure on low-cost carriers.
In India, Delhi airport was among the worst hit, with 176 flights delayed. Similar conditions were reported in Mumbai and Bengaluru, where IndiGo recorded delays on 93 flights and Air India on 74, while four Air India flights were cancelled.
