As of 2:00 PM on August 9, 2026, Typhoon "White Dolphin," the 13th tropical cyclone of the year, is approaching the eastern coast of China, according to civil aviation monitoring. The storm is expected to make landfall between Zhoushan, Zhejiang, and Fuding, Fujian, from the night of August 9 to the early morning of August 10, bringing heavy winds and rain to several provinces in East China and causing significant flight reductions and cancellations.

Five airports have completely suspended all flight operations, with no departures or arrivals scheduled. Ningbo Lishe Airport halted all flights from 11:30 PM on August 8, resulting in the cancellation of all 345 scheduled flights on August 9. Similarly, Wenzhou Longwan, Zhoushan Putuoshan, Taizhou Luqiao, and Lishui airports have canceled all inbound and outbound flights for August 9, with no flight operations planned for the day.

Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport has canceled 270 flights scheduled for August 9, with the disruptions primarily affecting the period after 12:00 PM. Yiwu Airport suspended all flight takeoffs and landings from 5:00 PM, canceling a total of 48 flights for the day. Jiaxing Airport canceled 18 flights, while Quzhou Airport canceled 16 flights.

Due to the peripheral effects of the typhoon, the operational capacity of Shanghai Pudong and Hongqiao airports has been severely reduced. According to data from Flight Manager, Shanghai Hongqiao Airport's domestic departure cancellation rate stands at 77.44%, with 309 flights canceled, while the arrival cancellation rate is 94.83%, with 367 flights canceled. At Shanghai Pudong Airport, the domestic departure cancellation rate is 76.83%, with 610 flights canceled, and the arrival cancellation rate is 81.99%, with 651 flights canceled.

Airports in Jiangsu and northern Fujian are also experiencing varying degrees of flight delays and reductions. It is estimated that from August 9 to 11, a total of 38 airports across the country will be affected by the typhoon, with the impact zone expanding further inland as the storm moves westward after landfall.

Earlier, more than ten domestic airlines, including Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines, have issued special typhoon-related policies for free ticket changes and refunds. These policies cover routes to and from affected airports such as those in Zhejiang and Shanghai for flights scheduled between August 8 and 10. Passengers can process changes or refunds through official channels like airline websites or apps without paying any fees.

Travelers are advised to check the latest flight status via their carrier or the airport's official channels before heading to the airport and to adjust their itineraries accordingly.