United Airlines has had to scrap dozens of flights for the week of September 23, 2025, leaving many travelers in the lurch and throwing travel plans for key international routes into disarray. The wave of cancellations and delays is hitting routes that link the US to Hong Kong and key cities in Europe, so anyone with plans for that stretch of dates is likely to feel the impact. Airports that are usually busy Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Newark (EWR), and Hong Kong (HKG) are suddenly swamped with fewer available flights and lots of confused passengers. The situation goes beyond just getting from A to B; these routes are linchpins for both business trips and vacations. A hiccup of this size is bound to ripple through the tourism sector as meetings, connections, and sightseeing plans get tossed into the air.

United Airlines have been hit with over 188 flight delays and 12 cancellations today, causing major disruptions across multiple Cities and airports.

Affected Cities and Airports

The flight cancellations primarily impacted major hubs, such as:

• Los Angeles (KLAX)
• San Francisco (KSFO)
• Newark (KEWR)
• Hong Kong (HKG)

Travelers planning to connect through these cities will face delays and cancellations across multiple international routes. This will particularly affect business travelers, tourists, and anyone with connecting flights from these key international hubs.

Table Overview of Flight cancellation and delays

The facts and figures provided are based on Flight Aware data.

Passengers Affected

A large group of travelers has been impacted by these cancellations, with services in and out of Hong Kong, Madrid, and Guam shuttered entirely. Those bound for or coming from Hong Kong, as well as Los Angeles and San Francisco, are finding their itineraries in flux, and with United controlling many core high-volume corridors, the knock on delays are spreading. Customers booked on notable flights such as UAL152, UAL877, and UAL802 key routes connecting the U.S. to Asia and Europe must now locate alternate solutions, thereby deepening the systemic strain.

Impact on Tourism

Tourism is expected to feel the strain as these cancellations impact travelers intending to visit destinations like Hong Kong, the United States, and major European cities. Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), a vital hub for international travelers, is seeing a ripple effect, as fewer flights means fewer opportunities for tourists to visit. The significant role of international travelers in the tourism sector of both the U.S. and Hong Kong is undeniable, and these disruptions may result in a decline in inbound tourism in the coming days. Many tourists rely on these key flight routes, and without access to regular services, the tourism industry in these regions may face short-term setbacks.

Overview

United Airlines has just canceled several major international routes, throwing the travel schedules of thousands of flyers into chaos. If you were set to fly to big markets like Asia or Europe, that change could also hit nearby hotels, attractions, and even entire state economies that rely on visitors from the U.S. Experts are telling flyers to regularly check with the airline, whether through the app or customer support, for new travel plans or any eligible refunds.

While things get sorted out, United will likely shutter or reroute flights at more cities, so that makes it even more vital to watch for alerts. Otherwise, you could lose out on seat and voucher options. With so many routes yanked out of the system, the wider tourism market could see a brief downturn, pocket creating a ripple that airport shops, restaurants, and employee wages could definitely feel in the near future.

Image Credit: United Airlines