Japan Amid Travel Chaos as Air Do, ANA Wings, Japan Air Commuter and others Grounds 41 Flights with over 400 Delays across Tokyo, Sapporo, Osaka, Kumamoto and Miyazaki City, New Update

Published on December 5, 2025

Widespread flight disruptions struck the domestic air network across Japan today. Consequently, this chaos immediately impacted travel to and from major hubs like Tokyo, Sapporo and Osaka. Regional connectivity also suffered heavily, reaching cities such as Kumamoto and Miyazaki City. Carriers Air Do and ANA Wings faced the brunt of the operational failures, grounding numerous services. 41 flights were confirmed cancelled, while 437 others recorded significant delays across the five affected airports. This widespread failure created immediate travel headaches for passengers nationwide. Airlines now struggle to manage the subsequent scheduling fallout across the highly utilized Japan network.

Major Airports Affected

The operational stability of several key airports was profoundly tested by the accumulated cancellations and delays. Haneda Airport (Tokyo International Airport), a crucial hub serving Tokyo and the Greater Tokyo Area, registered the most extensive volume of delays, with 229 flights affected, alongside 13 cancellations. This concentration of disruption at the nation’s primary gateway signifies a major impediment to passenger flow and schedule integrity.

Further north, New Chitose Airport, the main air access point for Sapporo and the Hokkaido region, faced the highest number of flight cancellations, with 15 flights grounded. An additional 80 flights were documented as delayed at this northern hub, creating significant challenges for travelers connecting to and from Sapporo.

In the Kansai region, Osaka Itami Airport, which serves the bustling city of Osaka, recorded 9 cancellations and 99 delays. This figure reflects substantial instability in air services across western Japan.

The southern regions were not immune to the operational setbacks. Miyazaki Airport registered 2 cancellations and 21 delays, impacting travel to and from Miyazaki City. Similarly, Kumamoto Airport, serving the city of Kumamoto, documented 2 cancellations and 8 delays, adding to the total number of grounded and delayed services across Japan. In total, 41 flights were ultimately cancelled across the five airports, a serious setback for travelers.

Impacted Airlines

The disruptions were attributed to the operational services of five distinct carriers, with certain airlines bearing a greater burden of the total cancellations and delays.

Air Do was heavily impacted, contributing to the substantial number of cancellations at the Haneda-New Chitose corridor. A total of 24 cancellations were logged against the airline: 12 at New Chitose and 12 at Haneda. Furthermore, 29 delays were recorded on its services across both hubs.

ANA Wings recorded the highest number of total delays, accumulating 47 delayed flights across four different airports: 13 at Haneda, 31 at Osaka Int’l (Itami), 4 at Miyazaki and 2 at Kumamoto. The carrier was also responsible for 11 cancellations, including 6 at Osaka Int’l (Itami), 2 at Miyazaki, 2 at Kumamoto and 1 at Haneda. The wide distribution of its delays indicates a broad operational strain on its regional network that connects Tokyo and Osaka with smaller cities.

Other regional carriers were also involved in the operational setbacks. Jetstar Japan services were compromised at New Chitose, with 3 cancellations and 4 delays reported. At the Osaka hub, Japan Air Commuter registered 2 cancellations and 0 delays, while Ibex added 1 cancellation and 2 delays to the overall statistics for Osaka Int’l (Itami).

Beyond these specific figures, delays were being experienced by several other Airlines, like Japan Airlines, All Nippon, StarFlyer and more.

Probable Impact on Local Tourism

The extensive cancellation and delay figures are expected to precipitate considerable logistical challenges for the tourism sector in the affected cities across Japan. The high volume of delays at Haneda Airport (Tokyo) likely resulted in missed connections and necessitated rapid rebooking efforts, potentially leading to increased costs and stress for passengers arriving in or departing from the capital city of Tokyo.

For northern Japan, the 15 cancellations in Sapporo would have a direct effect on inbound and outbound tourism in Hokkaido, especially for those relying on the crucial air link to the region. Similarly, the disruptions around Osaka International Airport impact domestic travel to the Kansai region, a major cultural and business center in Japan.

The cancellations in Miyazaki City and Kumamoto affect regional travel within Kyushu. Tourists planning to use Miyazaki City and Kumamoto as gateways to other parts of the island would have their schedules significantly curtailed, potentially impacting reservations for local hotels, transport and tours. While the exact cause of the operational difficulties is not specified, the widespread nature of the interruptions ensures that travelers’ plans across Japan are being compromised.

What Affected Passengers Can Do Now

Passengers whose travel plans have been impacted by these widespread disruptions are advised to take immediate action to mitigate further inconvenience. Since the confirmed service irregularities involve Air Do, ANA Wings, Jetstar Japan, Japan Air Commuter and Ibex, all affected passengers must prioritize verifying the current status of their flights directly with the operating airline.

Given the potential for knock-on effects across the entire network in Japan, travelers are strongly urged not to proceed to the affected airports—including Haneda (Tokyo), New Chitose (Sapporo), Osaka Int’l (Itami) (Osaka), Kumamoto and Miyazaki City—without confirmation of their flight’s updated status. Most carriers offer updated information regarding involuntary reservation changes, ticket refunds, or alternative travel options through their official websites or customer service channels. Passengers who booked their tickets through a third-party agency are recommended to coordinate their rebooking or refund requests through that agent.

-The information provided is sourced from FlightAware.