All scheduled flights on 49 air routes between China and Japan have been cancelled for February following political tensions between the two countries, the Straits Times reported.
Citing travel platform information, the newspaper states that in January, the cancellation rate for flights from mainland China to Japan reached 47.2 percent, an increase of 7.8 percentage points from the previous month.
On January 26th, it was announced that all scheduled flights on 49 routes between the two countries would be cancelled for February. This decision reflects ongoing concerns and disruptions in travel related to the region.
Major Chinese airlines—Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines—have responded by implementing special ticket change and refund policies to accommodate affected passengers.
Those with tickets purchased or reissued before January 26th are allowed one free flight change (subject to fare differences) or may apply for refunds on unused flight segments. These measures cover flights scheduled from March 29th to October 24th, affecting popular destinations such as Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Sapporo, and Okinawa.
This latest development follows a mid-November travel advisory issued by China, which discouraged travel to Japan due to remarks made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi concerning Taiwan.
China on Monday warned its citizens against traveling to Japan during the Lunar New Year, with the Chinese foreign ministry said nationals “face serious security threats in Japan,” citing “a surge in crimes targeting Chinese citizens” and earthquakes.
Booking estimates and flight data show South Korea is on track to overtake Japan as the top destination for Chinese travelers during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.
