Shanghai Airlines delayed a flight for 15 Australian athletes, causing dismay among waiting passengers.

More than 100 travellers aboard the FM9256 plane were left waiting for three and a half hours as the volleyball players arrived late at Haikou Meilan Airport in Hainan, China, on July 26.

Footage shows a man arguing with a cabin crew member while the foreign athletes stood in the aisle.

The airline explained that the flight delay was due to typhoon weather conditions.

The management stated: 'Under the premise of ensuring adequate time, our check-in staff followed procedures to arrange boarding for passengers on the same flight segment who might miss their connecting international flights at Pudong due to the typhoon weather.'

The management took accountability for the incident and emphasised their commitment to flight safety and passenger rights.

'We will thoroughly review the operational assurance process, focus on optimizing passenger service procedures and information communication mechanisms, and strive to improve passenger service support levels during adverse weather conditions, providing a better and more punctual travel experience,' they added.