Airline operations across Asia stumbled on 22 December when 22 flights were cancelled in quick succession, rippling through hubs in Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Among the affected services were Cathay Pacific flight CX 424 to Kaohsiung and Hong Kong Airlines flight HX 822 to Xuzhou, highlighting how disruptions elsewhere in the region can quickly impact the SAR.
Indonesia was hardest hit, with seven Batik Air cancellations on Jakarta–Makassar and Jakarta–Surabaya trunk routes. Malaysia Airlines scrubbed long-haul departures to Seoul, Jeddah and Narita, while United Airlines pulled a San Francisco service out of Taipei. Evening departures were disproportionately affected, pointing to tight crew-scheduling and aircraft-turnaround windows during the year-end peak.
For travellers who suddenly find themselves rerouted through unfamiliar airports, visa and transit rules can shift just as fast as flight schedules. VisaHQ’s Hong Kong team can secure expedited visas or transit permits for destinations like Singapore, Thailand and beyond, all through a single online dashboard (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/). Having those documents in hand before reaching the gate helps companies keep staff moving and avoid costly delays at immigration.
![Regional wave of flight cancellations hits Hong Kong schedules on peak travel week]()
Mobility managers in Hong Kong reacted by rerouting travellers via Singapore and Bangkok, the only hubs showing spare capacity. Companies were reminded to secure airline cancellation letters quickly so employees can claim travel insurance and to monitor carrier apps for rolling updates, as analysts warned that crew shortages and winter weather could prolong disruptions for another 36 hours.
The episode underlines the fragility of regional aviation networks during high season. Experts say corporates should build buffer days into itineraries and maintain a live inventory of alternative routings, especially for time-sensitive assignments or shipments that rely on hand-carry couriers.
Airlines involved have pledged to restore normal schedules within two days, but passenger-rights groups are urging them to offer meal and hotel vouchers automatically to avoid scenes of stranded travellers that marred previous peak seasons.
Indonesia was hardest hit, with seven Batik Air cancellations on Jakarta–Makassar and Jakarta–Surabaya trunk routes. Malaysia Airlines scrubbed long-haul departures to Seoul, Jeddah and Narita, while United Airlines pulled a San Francisco service out of Taipei. Evening departures were disproportionately affected, pointing to tight crew-scheduling and aircraft-turnaround windows during the year-end peak.
For travellers who suddenly find themselves rerouted through unfamiliar airports, visa and transit rules can shift just as fast as flight schedules. VisaHQ’s Hong Kong team can secure expedited visas or transit permits for destinations like Singapore, Thailand and beyond, all through a single online dashboard (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/). Having those documents in hand before reaching the gate helps companies keep staff moving and avoid costly delays at immigration.
Mobility managers in Hong Kong reacted by rerouting travellers via Singapore and Bangkok, the only hubs showing spare capacity. Companies were reminded to secure airline cancellation letters quickly so employees can claim travel insurance and to monitor carrier apps for rolling updates, as analysts warned that crew shortages and winter weather could prolong disruptions for another 36 hours.
The episode underlines the fragility of regional aviation networks during high season. Experts say corporates should build buffer days into itineraries and maintain a live inventory of alternative routings, especially for time-sensitive assignments or shipments that rely on hand-carry couriers.
Airlines involved have pledged to restore normal schedules within two days, but passenger-rights groups are urging them to offer meal and hotel vouchers automatically to avoid scenes of stranded travellers that marred previous peak seasons.
