Asia-Pacific airports in chaos: 13,000 flights cancelled as fuel crisis strands passengers

Quick summary

A fuel supply crisis triggered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has sent Asia-Pacific aviation into its worst single-day disruption of 2026. On May 7, Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi recorded 365 delays — the highest of any airport in Asia — while Haneda Airport in Tokyo logged 282 delays. Airports across Bangkok, Singapore, Shanghai, Kuala Lumpur, and Incheon were also hit. The crisis is part of a broader collapse: airlines have scrapped roughly 13,000 flights across May as jet fuel costs and supply chains buckle under the Hormuz shutdown.

The disruption has no clear end date, and no automatic compensation applies under local rules at these airports. Travelers connecting through Delhi or Tokyo today face the highest rebooking risk.

Asia’s busiest airports are in chaos. A fuel supply shock — tracing directly to the Strait of Hormuz closure following US-Iran hostilities — has cascaded into mass delays and cancellations across the region’s major hubs, stranding thousands of passengers on what should have been routine connections.

Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi bore the worst of it on May 7, recording 365 delays in a single day. Haneda Airport in Tokyo followed with 282 delays, making it the second-hardest hit hub in Asia. Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi, Singapore’s Changi, Shanghai Pudong, Kuala Lumpur International, and Incheon all reported significant disruption.

The carriers caught in the middle include Air India, Japan Airlines, IndiGo, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, AirAsia, SpiceJet, and Shanghai Airlines — which cancelled more flights than any other single carrier on the day.

This is not a weather event with a 48-hour recovery window. The underlying cause is a global fuel supply disruption that has already forced airlines to scrap approximately 13,000 flights across May. Travelers with connections through Delhi, Tokyo, or Bangkok in the coming days are not looking at minor inconveniences — they are looking at potential overnight reroutes, multi-day rebooking queues, and zero guaranteed compensation under local aviation rules.

What happened at each hub — and which airlines are most exposed

The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly 20% of globally traded oil. Its closure following retaliatory Iranian strikes on Middle East infrastructure has choked jet fuel supply chains across the region. Airlines are now managing a fuel rationing problem, not a scheduling one — and that distinction matters enormously for how long this lasts.

Shanghai Airlines cancelled more flights than any other carrier on May 7, a figure that reflects both the scale of Chinese aviation exposure and the fuel dependency of high-frequency short-haul operations. Indian carriers Air India, IndiGo, and SpiceJet are operating under acute pressure at DEL, where India’s DGCA has mandated meals for delays exceeding two hours and hotel accommodation beyond four — but no fixed financial compensation exists. Japan’s MLIT applies similar welfare obligations at HND, without binding monetary payouts.

For the broader May picture, industry reporting confirms the 13,000-flight cancellation figure is a global total, with Asia-Pacific routes disproportionately affected given the region’s geographic proximity to the Hormuz chokepoint. This follows a pattern: April 12 saw 445 cancellations and 3,839 delays across Asia-Pacific hubs — at the time the single largest disruption day of early 2026. May 7 has now surpassed that benchmark at the worst-affected airports.

Why passenger rights offer almost no protection here

Here is the part airlines won’t volunteer at the gate: the protections most international travelers assume they have simply do not apply in this situation. EU261/UK261 — the regulation that entitles passengers to €250–€600 in compensation for long delays — only triggers on flights departing from EU or UK airports. A Delhi-to-London delay at DEL is not covered. A Bangkok-to-Frankfurt delay at BKK is not covered. The flight must originate on European soil.

US DOT rules require compensation from US carriers for delays exceeding three hours on domestic routes, but international itineraries carry far weaker obligations. Australian Consumer Law protections are similarly limited to domestic services. What travelers at DEL and HND do have: India’s DGCA mandates meals after a two-hour delay and hotel accommodation after four hours — enforceable, but not cash. Japan’s MLIT applies comparable welfare standards at HND. These are welfare minimums, not compensation rights.

The practical shield most travelers are overlooking is their credit card. Amex Platinum Trip Delay coverage kicks in at six hours and covers hotel and meals up to $500 per trip — file via amextravel.com. Chase Sapphire Reserve matches that threshold and limit via chase.com/benefits. Capital One Venture X covers the same at venturexbenefits.com. With over 2,600 Asia delays recorded on May 7 alone, cardholders on international itineraries should be filing claims, not waiting for airline vouchers that may never arrive.

Steps to take right now if your flight touches DEL, HND, or BKK

Every major hub in this disruption is operating under active rebooking pressure — queues at airline desks are long, hold times are longer, and waiver windows are typically 24–72 hours from disruption notice.

• If you have an existing booking through DEL, HND, or BKK: Open your airline’s app immediately. Air India status is at airindia.com/status; Japan Airlines at jal.co.jp/status; Thai Airways at thaiairways.com/status. Call airline hotlines directly — JAL’s international line is +81-3-57564442, Air India’s Delhi desk is +91-11-61234567. Request a fee-waived rebook within 24 hours before waiver windows close.
• If you are planning a new trip departing May 8–15: Use Google Flights to filter out DEL, HND, and BKK as connection points. Incheon (ICN) and Kansai (KIX) are currently the most stable major hubs in the region. Book directly with United Airlines or Qantas for North America and Australasia legs — direct bookings give you more rebooking leverage than third-party platforms.
• If you are currently in transit at a disrupted airport: Request lounge access at DEL Terminal 3 (Star Alliance) or HND International Terminal 3F (OneWorld and Star Alliance) — airlines are obligated to provide this under DGCA and MLIT welfare rules for delays over four hours. Monitor FlightAware for real-time gate changes rather than relying on airport boards, which are running behind.
• If your delay exceeds six hours and you paid with a premium card: File a trip delay claim with your card issuer now — Amex, Chase, and Capital One Venture X all cover hotel and meals up to $500. Do not wait until you are home. Collect all receipts at the airport.

Watch: The DGCA fuel supply announcement around May 10 is the single most important signal for travelers with bookings in the May 12–15 window. If it does not come, extend your contingency planning through the end of the month.

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