May Day Flight Cancellations Hit Regional Travel Plans as Fuel Costs Soar

A wave of flight cancellations ahead of the May Day holiday is disrupting travel plans on routes between China and destinations in Southeast Asia and Oceania, as airlines rein in capacity under surging fuel costs and weak route returns.

Passengers who had booked trips well in advance began receiving cancellation notices in April, with some of the affected services operated by Cathay Pacific, HK Express and AirAsia on routes to Southeast Asia and Australia.

From April 1 to 12, several China-Southeast Asia routes recorded full cancellation rates, while some China-Oceania routes, including Wuhan-Sydney and Guangzhou-Darwin, saw cancellation rates of more than 50 percent, according to Chinese traffic data platform DAST.

Jiemian News cited one specific adjustment by Air China, saying the carrier suspended its Chengdu Tianfu-Kuala Lumpur route from April 7 through June 30. Spring Airlines, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines had also trimmed some Southeast Asia services through system updates or passenger notifications.

The pullback comes as jet fuel prices remain elevated. The International Air Transport Association's fuel price monitor showed the global average jet fuel price reached 209 US dollars a barrel in the week ended April 3. IATA's latest monitor says the average eased to 197.83 dollars a barrel last week but remained far above normal levels.

The abrupt rise in operating costs has made some leisure-heavy international routes less attractive for carriers, especially where ticket prices were set before the latest energy shock and demand outside peak days remained uneven.

The cancellations have fueled complaints on Chinese social media, where travelers said they were forced to rebook at higher prices or alter itineraries close to the holiday. The May Day break is one of China's busiest travel periods, and airlines typically add regional capacity weeks in advance to capture outbound leisure demand.