Smog Grounds Hundreds of Beijing Flights on a Far from Merry Christmas

World-class airline radar and flight control systems are apparently no match for Beijing's thick blanket of smog, as hundreds of flights were cancelled on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning at Beijing's Capital Airport.

Today's soupy, AQI 500+ smog has been blamed for the cancellation of over 200 of its 554 scheduled flights as of 11am, Beijing Capital International Airport announced via its official Weibo account.

Numerous others were delayed. The airport’s social media account also featured some stubborn optimism, as officials noted that air quality was expected to improve this afternoon, a claim that has proven wrong as of 4pm, where the AQI still hangs in the upper 500s.

This is by no means the first time that smog has stranded flights on Beijing's tarmacs. January 10, 2012 and January 29, 2013 saw similar smog-related airport upheaval. However, the 2012 incident only resulted in 34 cancellations and 98 delays, a major controversy at the time that seems slight compared to the hundreds of flights thrown off schedule Thursday.

Having this many flights botched on Christmas Day was an especially bitter prospect for many expats. Prominent blogger and frequent traveller Jim Boyce wrote on Facebook earlier this morning: "Airport management might have to borrow Rudolph and his red nose to guide those planes through this 'Christmas mist.'”

Other netizens took to social media with their smog gripes, including one WeChatter who is missing Christmas dinner back home due to the cancellations.

Those planning on airline travel out of and to Beijing Thursday and Friday would be well advised to call ahead before embarking (and bring a mask while you're at it).

Image: Weibo