Japan Airlines, ANA, Air Do, JAL, and More Major Airlines Cause Flight Disruption as 60 Cancellations Impact Travel to Haneda, New Chitose, Fukuoka, Okinawa, and More Key International Destinations

Published on December 25, 2025

A total of 60 flight cancellations disrupted air travel across Japan over a two-day period, affecting both domestic and international operations. The cancellations impacted routes linking Tokyo, Hokkaido, Kyushu, Okinawa, and several remote island destinations, including New Chitose, Fukuoka, Miyako, Yakushima, Kushiro, Kuala Lumpur, Washington Dulles, Newark, and San Francisco. These Japan flight cancellations spread across major hubs and regional airports alike, underscoring how closely connected the country’s aviation system has become.

From high-density trunk routes to low-frequency island services, airlines grounded aircraft of all sizes, causing widespread scheduling gaps across the network.

Regional Airports Experience Concentrated Disruptions

Several regional airports reported repeated cancellations, particularly on routes serving smaller cities and island communities.

At Sendai Airport, airlines cancelled five departures connecting the city with New Chitose and Kobe across multiple days. These cancellations limited connectivity between northeastern Japan, Hokkaido, and the Kansai region.

Kagoshima Airport recorded eight cancellations, all affecting island services operated by Japan Air Commuter. Flights to Yakushima, New Tanegashima, and Kikai were cancelled in clusters throughout Thursday afternoon, disrupting essential transport links for island residents.

Key regional impacts included:

• Reduced access to island communities in southern Kyushu
• Repeated cancellations on the same routes and time slots
• Limited alternative travel options due to geography

Disruptions Extend Across Okinawa and Central Japan

At Naha Airport, airlines cancelled multiple Boeing 737 services to Miyako over two consecutive days, along with a scheduled flight to Fukuoka. These cancellations reduced inter-island capacity and weakened links between Okinawa and mainland Japan.

In central Japan, Osaka International Airport (Itami) saw both morning and afternoon ATR42 flights to Tajima cancelled on the same day. Chubu Centrair International Airport also lost two regional departures to Fukuoka and Akita, further tightening domestic connectivity.

Northern Routes Face Capacity Reductions

Hokkaido’s main gateway, New Chitose Airport, experienced six cancellations affecting routes to Tokyo Haneda, Fukuoka, and Kushiro. Airlines cancelled widebody and narrowbody services, significantly reducing seat availability on one of Japan’s busiest north–south corridors.

These New Chitose flight disruptions affected both peak and off-peak departures, creating ripple effects across connecting schedules nationwide.

Tokyo Haneda Records the Highest Number of Cancellations

Tokyo’s primary hub saw the most severe operational impact. A total of 20 departures were cancelled at Haneda, affecting domestic and international travel simultaneously. Airlines suspended multiple flights to New Chitose, Kushiro, Hachijojima, Takamatsu, and Fukuoka, alongside long-haul services to the United States.

The volume of Haneda Airport cancellations demonstrated how disruptions at a central hub can quickly cascade across the country’s aviation network.

Fukuoka Sees Mixed Regional and Trunk Route Losses

Fukuoka Airport cancellations covered a wide mix of aircraft and destinations. Airlines cancelled services to Tokyo Haneda, Naha, Yakushima, Fukue, Miyazaki, and Osaka Itami.

The cancellations included:

• High-frequency trunk routes using widebody aircraft
• Regional turboprop services to smaller islands
• Key domestic flights Japan depends on for daily mobility

International Services Also Affected

International travel was not immune to disruption. Malaysia Airlines cancelled scheduled services to Kuala Lumpur from Kansai and Narita airports. Narita also lost a domestic connection to New Chitose, further reducing operational consistency across international gateways.

These suspensions highlighted how Japan airline operations can be affected simultaneously across domestic and overseas routes.

Complete List of Cancelled Flights

Impact on Passengers and Network Stability

The scale of Japan flight cancellations illustrates how operational disruptions affect passengers far beyond a single airport. Travelers faced missed connections, reduced rebooking options, and delays that extended across regions. Island communities were especially vulnerable, while hub-level disruptions amplified the impact nationwide.

This episode highlights the delicate balance required to maintain schedule reliability across Japan’s dense and highly coordinated air transport system.