Kanselleringer - Kina

Hundreds of flights canceled at China airports, more to come

By CNN Staff

July 22, 2014 -- Updated 0758 GMT (1558 HKT)

Hundreds of flights were canceled in China July 21, 2014, but reasons given were few.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Authorities shed little light on why hundreds of flights were canceled or delayed yesterday in China
• CCTV, state-owned media company, warned that more disruptions should be expected over next few weeks
• China has a reputation of lengthy airport delays, especially in Shanghai and Beijing

(CNN) -- Hundreds of flights to and from eastern China were canceled or delayed Monday and state media warned that more disruptions should be expected in the next few weeks.

Around 200 flights were canceled at Shanghai's two airports -- Pudong and Hongqiao -- which are among the country's busiest airline hubs. Another 120 flights were delayed for more than two hours.

Flights departing from other eastern Chinese cities' airports, including Nanjing and Hangzhou, were also affected.

Officials and airlines have shed little light on the reasons for the disruptions.

Local officials cited "air traffic restrictions" while Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines said "the airspace was occupied," according to the Shanghai Daily newspaper.

Neither source has elaborated on their comments.

"Among situations for air traffic restrictions being imposed are when military maneuvers are taking place," the newspaper added.

CCTV, the state television channel, shared on its Weibo account -- China's equivalent of Twitter -- a widely circulated memo, originally published on a Chinese flight crew blog, that said the civil aviation authority has requested airlines to reduce flights by 25% in eastern China.