Typhoon Saudel disrupts flights across Taiwan, Hong Kong, China
Synopsis
Typhoon Saudel — China's seventh landfalling typhoon of 2026 — has cancelled 16 flights at Taiwan's Taoyuan Airport, grounded Hong Kong–Okinawa routes, and triggered a Level 3 emergency in Zhejiang, with landfall expected Thursday night to Friday morning along the Zhejiang–Fujian coast.
Key Takeaways
Typhoon Saudel entered the East China Sea on the morning of Wednesday, 26 August 2026 , putting coastal provinces on high alert.
16 flights were cancelled at Taiwan's Taoyuan International Airport , affecting carriers including China Airlines , EVA Air , Peach , Starlux , and Thai Lion Air .
Hong Kong Airlines cancelled flights HX658/HX659 to Okinawa ; HK Express rescheduled its Okinawa services to August 27 .
The National Meteorological Centre forecasts landfall between Thursday night and Friday morning along the Xiangshan (Zhejiang) to Fuqing (Fujian) coastal corridor.
Zhejiang raised its emergency response to Level 3 and evacuated more than 4,100 tourists from island resorts.
Saudel is the seventh typhoon to make landfall in China in 2026 , following earlier storms including Bavi .
Typhoon Saudel is bearing down on China's eastern coastline, forcing flight cancellations across Taiwan, Hong Kong, and placing airports in Zhejiang and Fujian provinces on high alert as of Wednesday, 26 August 2026. The storm entered the East China Sea in the early hours of Wednesday, triggering a cascade of disruptions across the region's aviation and maritime networks.
Flight Cancellations Spread Across the Region
Taiwan's Taoyuan International Airport recorded 16 cancelled flights as Saudel intensified. Affected carriers included Peach, China Airlines, EVA Air, Starlux, and Thai Lion Air. In Hong Kong, Hong Kong Airlines fully cancelled its HX658/HX659 route between the city and Japan's Okinawa, while HK Express rescheduled its Okinawa-bound services to August 27.Landfall Forecast and Emergency Response
The National Meteorological Centre (NMC) forecasts that Saudel will make landfall between Thursday night and Friday morning along a coastal stretch running from Xiangshan in eastern Zhejiang to Fuqing in southeastern Fujian province. Zhejiang has elevated its emergency response to Level 3 — the third highest of four tiers — and has shuttered all coastal scenic areas. More than 4,100 tourists have been evacuated from island resorts in the province.Why It Matters
Saudel is the seventh typhoon to make landfall in China this year, compounding an already active storm season. Previous systems, including Bavi, brought torrential rain and widespread flooding to coastal communities. The frequency of landfalling typhoons in 2026 is placing sustained pressure on emergency management infrastructure across China's southeastern provinces.The Competitive Backdrop for Aviation
The disruptions come during a peak summer travel period for routes connecting China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Japan. Carriers operating thin-margin leisure routes — particularly low-cost operators such as Peach, HK Express, and Thai Lion Air — face the dual challenge of passenger rebooking costs and slot disruptions at congested regional airports.What's Next
All eyes are on the Zhejiang–Fujian coastal corridor as Saudel approaches its projected landfall window between Thursday night and Friday morning. Travellers on regional routes should expect further schedule changes, and authorities in Guangdong and Guangxi provinces may also issue elevated alerts depending on the storm's post-landfall track.Point of View
And the clustering of storms along China's southeastern coast in 2026 is intensifying scrutiny of regional disaster-preparedness frameworks. What mainstream coverage often underplays is the economic drag on low-cost carriers: rebooking liabilities and slot disruptions on high-frequency leisure routes — Okinawa, Taiwan, coastal China — can erode quarterly margins at a time when Asia-Pacific aviation is still rebuilding post-pandemic load factors. The Zhejiang Level 3 response and mass tourist evacuation also signal that local governments are prioritising visible action after criticism of slow responses to earlier storms like Bavi. Watch whether the landfall track shifts further south toward Guangdong — that would bring a far denser industrial and port infrastructure into the storm's path.
NationPress
26 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Typhoon Saudel and where is it headed?
Typhoon Saudel is a tropical storm that entered the East China Sea on the morning of Wednesday, 26 August 2026. The National Meteorological Centre forecasts it will make landfall between Thursday night and Friday morning along the coast from Xiangshan in Zhejiang to Fuqing in Fujian province.
Which flights have been cancelled due to Typhoon Saudel?
16 flights were cancelled at Taiwan's Taoyuan International Airport, with Peach, China Airlines, EVA Air, Starlux, and Thai Lion Air among the affected carriers. Hong Kong Airlines cancelled its HX658/HX659 Okinawa flights, and HK Express rescheduled its Okinawa services to August 27.
How is China responding to Typhoon Saudel?
Zhejiang province raised its emergency response level to Level 3 — the third highest of four tiers — and closed all coastal scenic areas. More than 4,100 tourists have been evacuated from island resorts in the province.
How many typhoons have hit China in 2026?
Saudel is the seventh typhoon to make landfall in China in 2026. Previous storms, including Bavi, brought torrential rain and flooding to coastal areas.
Which provinces are most at risk from Typhoon Saudel?
Zhejiang and Fujian provinces face the most direct risk, as the storm's projected landfall corridor runs from Xiangshan in eastern Zhejiang to Fuqing in southeastern Fujian. Airports in both provinces remained on high alert for delays and cancellations as of Wednesday.
