According to data from airports in the capital, 46 flights at Beijing Capital International Airport were canceled by 4:40 pm Monday and eight flights at Beijing Daxing International Airport were scratched by 4 pm due to heavy sand and dust in the city's air.

A total 974 inbound and outbound flights were scheduled Monday at Capital Airport and 661 inbound and outbound flights at Daxing airport, Beijing Daily reported by.

Visibility at Daxing airport was more than 1,000 meters earlier and is expected to rise later in the day.

Beijing and many regions in northern China saw heavy sand and dust on Monday, the strongest this year, according the city's environmental authority.

Visibility was low in Beijing on Monday morning as the municipal observatory hoisted a yellow alert in response to the dusty weather.