Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Jetstar, and More Airlines Trigger Travel Disruptions in Japan as Over 40 Flights Are Cancelled, Affecting Routes to Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Hokkaido, Okinawa, and More Key Destinations – New Update You Need to Know

Published on December 18, 2025

Air travel across the country has come under pressure as Japan flight cancellations disrupted operations at several major and regional airports. In total, 42 scheduled departures were cancelled, affecting domestic, regional, and international connectivity.

The impacted destinations include Tokyo Haneda, Tokyo Narita, Osaka Itami, Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Matsuyama, Kochi, Aomori, Hakodate, Nakashibetsu, Yakushima, Tokunoshima, Okinoerabu, Ishigaki, Fukue, Chubu Centrair, Seoul Incheon, Shanghai Pudong, Hong Kong, Auckland, and Ulaanbaatar. The breadth of these cancellations highlights widespread Japanese airport disruptions rather than issues confined to a single location.

Kumamoto Airport: Reduced Access to Major Hubs

At Kumamoto Airport in Mashiki, airlines pulled back services connecting Kyushu with Japan’s busiest cities. Air Do cancelled flight AKX524, operated by a Dash 8 aircraft, on two separate days for its Osaka Itami route. All Nippon Airways also cancelled ANA648, a Boeing 767 service to Tokyo Haneda. These withdrawals weakened an important travel corridor for both business and leisure passengers.

Kagoshima Airport: Island Connectivity Under Strain

Kagoshima Airport saw a cluster of cancellations affecting island routes that are essential for daily travel. Japan Air Commuter cancelled multiple turboprop services to Yakushima, Tokunoshima, and Okinoerabu, with several flights scheduled at the same early-morning time slots removed. The concentration of cancellations suggests ongoing operational constraints affecting Japan regional air travel, particularly for remote island communities.

Osaka Itami Airport: Regional Routes Disrupted

Osaka International Airport in Itami experienced four cancellations, all involving Solaseed Air Dash 8 aircraft. Flights to Kochi, Kagoshima, and Matsuyama were withdrawn between Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning, reducing short-haul travel options across western Japan.

Naha Airport: Mainland and Island Routes Cut

At Naha Airport in Okinawa, airlines cancelled four departures spanning mainland and island destinations. Solaseed Air withdrew Boeing 737 services to Fukuoka and Ishigaki, Skymark Airlines cancelled a Tokyo Haneda flight, and Jetstar Japan pulled an evening service to Narita. These changes narrowed travel options between Okinawa, the main islands, and nearby destinations.

New Chitose Airport: Extensive Disruptions in Hokkaido

New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido recorded the highest number of cancellations, with 16 departures removed across Wednesday and Thursday. Air Do cancelled multiple Boeing 767 flights to Tokyo Haneda throughout the day, while ANA and Japan Airlines also withdrew Haneda-bound services. Regional routes to Aomori, Hakodate, and Nakashibetsu were affected, and Cathay Pacific cancelled its Hong Kong service. This combination of ANA and JAL cancelled flights alongside regional and international withdrawals significantly reduced outbound capacity from northern Japan.

Fukuoka Airport: Kyushu Links Weakened

Fukuoka Airport added three more cancellations to the overall tally. Orca Airlines cancelled flights to Fukue and Chubu Centrair, while Japan Air Commuter withdrew a service to Kagoshima. These changes further tightened air links within Kyushu and to central Japan, contributing to the rise in Domestic flights cancelled in Japan.

Kansai and Narita: International Services Affected

International travel was also disrupted. Kansai International Airport saw the cancellation of flights to Seoul Incheon and Shanghai Pudong. At Narita International Airport, Air New Zealand cancelled its Auckland service, and MIAT Mongolian Airlines withdrew a flight to Ulaanbaatar. These developments underline the scale of International flight cancellations Japan across both regional and long-haul networks.

Complete List of Cancelled Flights

Impact on Passengers and Network Stability

The latest wave of Japan flight cancellations reveals a layered disruption across the aviation system. Turboprop island routes, high-frequency domestic corridors, and long-haul international services were all affected. For passengers, repeated cancellations on the same routes reduce rebooking flexibility and increase reliance on limited alternatives. As airlines work to rebalance schedules and resources, uncertainty remains a defining feature of air travel across Japan in the near term.