Typhoon Dolphin has seriously disrupted Shanghai’s aviation infrastructure. Torrential rain and strong winds forced the city’s two airports to cancel a combined 943 flights, reducing their operating capacity by nearly 40%.
The storm also flooded streets across Shanghai, including areas around major shopping districts. In the suburbs of Jiading and Qingpu, floodwaters reached knee level in some areas.
China Eastern Airlines said it was gradually working to resume flights to Shanghai, Zhejiang province and other affected destinations. However, weather-related delays are expected to continue affecting schedules even after the typhoon weakens.
Dolphin reached the coast of Zhejiang province on Sunday evening, bringing winds of up to 151 km/h near its centre before weakening into a tropical storm. Its remaining rain bands continued to move across eastern China.
The storm has affected not only passenger travel but also air cargo operations. Disruptions at Shanghai’s airports have caused delays and a buildup of cargo, while restoring normal airport operations could take several days.
Meanwhile, authorities are warning of further deterioration in weather conditions. Dolphin is moving inland, while Beijing is preparing for heavy rainfall, flash floods and landslides.
For Shanghai, the most immediate impact of the typhoon has been the widespread disruption to air travel. With nearly 1,000 flights cancelled, the storm has turned severe weather into a major transportation problem for one of China’s largest aviation hubs.
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