Japan and South Korea Face Massive Chaos as Passengers Grounded by 578 Delays and 12 Cancellations, Affecting Japan Airlines, ANA, Korean Air, Asiana, Air Do, and More Across Major Airports in Tokyo, Chitose, Incheon, and Beyond

Published on December 21, 2025

Japan and South Korea face flight chaos as passengers grounded by 589+ flight cancellations and delays. Incheon Airport emerged as the most delay-heavy hub with 261 delays, followed by Tokyo Haneda with 198 delays, while New Chitose reported 119 delays. On the airline side, Korean Air, Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Asiana Airlines, and Air Do accounted for the largest share of affected flights. Cancellations were concentrated at Tokyo Haneda (5) and New Chitose (6), with Incheon reporting 1 cancellation, while U.S.-linked routes saw 43 delays across Haneda and Incheon.

• update today: 578 delays and 12 cancellations impacted flights across Japan and South Korea.
• Incheon International Airport recorded the highest delay volume with 261 delayed flights.
• Tokyo Haneda followed with 198 delays and 5 cancellations, while New Chitose saw 119 delays and 6 cancellations.
• Korean Air, Japan Airlines, ANA, Asiana Airlines, and Air Do were the most affected carriers by volume.
• International long-haul and regional routes showed high delay ratios despite lower flight counts, especially on select Europe and Asia-Pacific connections.

Most Affected Airports by Cancellations and Delays

Tokyo International Airport (Haneda)

Haneda logged 198 delays and 5 cancellations, making it one of the most disrupted airports today. Domestic Japanese routes carried the bulk of delays, alongside limited but notable U.S.-linked impacts.

Incheon International Airport

Incheon recorded the highest total delays (261) with 1 cancellation. The airport handled widespread disruption across long-haul, regional Asia-Pacific, and limited North American services.

New Chitose Airport

New Chitose experienced 119 delays and 6 cancellations, with disruption concentrated on domestic Japan routes, particularly connections with Tokyo-area airports.

Narita International Airport

Narita appeared repeatedly as a connected airport in delayed rotations, reflecting knock-on effects from congestion at Haneda and Incheon.

Osaka International Airport (Itami)

Osaka Itami saw multiple delayed connections, underscoring the spread of operational strain across Japan’s domestic network.

Airlines Most Affected by Flight Cancellations and Delays

Korean Air

The single largest contributor by volume, Korean Air reported 64 delays, absorbing much of the disruption at Incheon.

Japan Airlines

Japan Airlines recorded 61 delays at Haneda and 26 at New Chitose, making it one of the most impacted carriers across Japan.

All Nippon Airways

ANA flights were widely delayed across Haneda and New Chitose, reflecting network-wide congestion rather than isolated route issues.

Asiana Airlines

Asiana reported 26 delays at Incheon, placing it among the top-affected full-service carriers in South Korea.

Air Do

Air Do stood out for cancellations, accounting for 5 cancelled flights at Haneda and additional disruption at New Chitose.

How Travellers Were Impacted at Major Airports

• Longer-than-usual departure and arrival delays, particularly on domestic connections.
• Increased risk of missed onward flights, especially on tightly scheduled itineraries.
• Higher likelihood of gate changes and revised boarding times.
• Strain on rebooking and standby options during peak periods.
• Potential delays in baggage delivery due to aircraft and crew rotation issues.

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Overview of Flight Cancellations

Flight cancellations remained limited but concentrated, totaling 12 across all airports. Tokyo Haneda and New Chitose accounted for the majority, with Air Do and select international carriers most affected. Incheon saw only one cancellation, indicating that disruption there was overwhelmingly delay-driven. Repeated references to Tokyo Haneda, New Chitose, and Incheon highlight these hubs as the focal points of today’s operational strain, with cancellations clustering around domestic Japanese routes and delays spreading across both Japan and South Korea’s major gateways.

Image Source: AI

Source: Different airports and FlightAware