Japan in Major Travel Crisis as Airports of Tokyo, Sapporo, Fukuoka and Osaka Experiences 57 Flight Cancellations and 262 Delays by All Nippon, Air Do, Skymark and others, New Update

Published on November 30, 2025

Japan’s air travel network faced severe operational stress today. Major airports across the country reported extensive flight disruptions. Specifically, key hubs serving Tokyo, Sapporo, Fukuoka and Osaka became flashpoints for delays and cancellations. Travelers immediately felt the impact. A combined 57 flights were abruptly canceled, while an astounding 262 flights suffered significant delays. Several major carriers struggled to maintain schedules. All Nippon Airways (ANA) recorded the highest number of overall disruptions. Furthermore, carriers like Air Do and Skymark, among others contributed heavily to the mounting cancellation totals. This unexpected crisis immediately affected thousands of passengers. Therefore, the scale of this aviation event requires immediate and detailed scrutiny to understand its systemic causes and consequences for travel across Japan.

Major Airports Affected

Widespread aviation disruptions were registered across four major airports in Japan, with a substantial operational collapse being noted across the country’s air traffic system. A combined total of 57 flight cancellations and 262 delays were recorded, impacting major metropolitan areas including Tokyo, Sapporo, Fukuoka and Osaka.

The greatest volume of disruptions was borne by Haneda Airport (Tokyo International Airport), which functions as the nation’s primary domestic and international gateway. A staggering 35 total flight cancellations were registered at this hub, accompanied by 106 delays. These figures represent the most severe concentration of service irregularity, which significantly compromised connectivity throughout the Greater Tokyo Area. The operational stability of this critical hub, which serves millions of passengers, was clearly tested by today’s events.

Further north, New Chitose Airport, the main air access point for Sapporo and the Hokkaido region, was also severely affected. This airport registered a total of 13 flight cancellations and 27 delays. The cancellation figures at New Chitose represented the second-highest total across the four impacted airports, leading to considerable challenges for travelers in the northern region of Japan.

In the south of Japan, Fukuoka Airport, a key regional hub, recorded eight total flight cancellations and 52 delays. While the number of outright cancellations was lower than the major hubs of Tokyo and Sapporo, the significant number of delays indicates substantial strain on scheduled operations.

Finally, at Kansai International Airport, which serves the Greater Osaka Area, one cancellation was reported, but this was accompanied by a large total of 77 delays. This high volume of delays, despite a low cancellation count, suggests that while flights were generally not grounded, passengers traveling to and from Osaka faced extensive waiting times and schedule alterations. The collective data confirms that flight operations across Japan are currently under significant duress.

Impacted Airlines

All Nippon, a major domestic carrier in Japan, bore the heaviest burden of the disruption, registering a total of 27 cancellations and 62 delays across the four affected airports. At Haneda, 22 cancellations and 55 delays were attributed to its services, representing the single largest impact at any one airport. Smaller impacts were also noted at New Chitose (2 cancellations, 2 delays), Fukuoka (2 cancellations, 1 delay) and Kansai Int’l (1 cancellation, 4 delays).

Air Do recorded the next highest number of cancellations, with a total of 16 flights grounded. At Haneda, 8 cancellations and 5 delays were logged, while a further 8 cancellations and 4 delays were documented at New Chitose. The concentration of their cancellations at these two northern hubs highlights a specific operational problem for the carrier’s services connecting Tokyo and Sapporo.

Skymark was also significantly affected, primarily by cancellations. The airline recorded a total of 10 cancellations, with no delays reported. These cancellations were distributed across Haneda (5 cancellations), New Chitose (3 cancellations) and Fukuoka (2 cancellations).

Two other carriers were also involved in the operational setbacks. Oriental Air Bridge registered three cancellations and one delay at Fukuoka, while Jetstar Japan registered one cancellation and five delays at the same Fukuoka hub. The involvement of these diverse carriers underscores the systemic nature of the disruption affecting air travel in Japan today.

Beyond these specific figures, minor delays were being experienced by several other Airlines, like Japan Airlines, Peach Aviation, Hong Kong Airlines and more.

Probable Impact on Local Tourism

The substantial volume of flight cancellations and delays might have an immediate, adverse effect on local tourism across the affected cities. Major gateways like Tokyo (Haneda), Sapporo (New Chitose), Fukuoka and Osaka (Kansai Int’l) are key entry points for both domestic and international visitors to Japan.

Disruptions to flight schedules typically lead to major complications for travelers. Delayed arrivals often result in missed hotel check-ins, the loss of pre-booked tour connections and the need for immediate rebooking of local transport services, all of which contribute to a decrease in overall traveler satisfaction. Furthermore, the extensive delays at Kansai Int’l, the gateway to Osaka and Kyoto, could significantly compromise onward travel plans for tourists arriving in the Kansai region. Similarly, the grounding of flights to Sapporo during the current season is a considerable impediment to tourism in Hokkaido. Necessary recovery operations are being anticipated by local tourism operators to mitigate the widespread impact on scheduled itineraries.

What Affected Passengers Can Do Now

In light of the widespread disruptions, travelers whose journeys have been impacted are being strongly advised to take immediate action. The following steps are recommended for affected passengers:

Firstly, current flight statuses must be checked directly with the operating airline. Travelers are urged to verify their flight’s specific status (cancellation, delay, or diversion) before departing for the airport. The official websites of All Nippon, Air Do, Skymark, Oriental Air Bridge and Jetstar Japan should be consulted for the most up-to-date information.

Secondly, for tickets that have been purchased via a travel agency, contact with the agency is recommended immediately, as rebooking and refund procedures are often handled through the original point of sale.

Thirdly, information regarding involuntary reservation changes and ticket refunds is being made available by the affected carriers. Passengers whose flights were cancelled are typically entitled to a refund or alternative flight arrangements, which must be secured as soon as possible due to the high demand on remaining services across Japan. All travelers are advised to keep receipts for any unexpected expenses, as compensation for delays may be covered by the airlines’ stated conditions of carriage.

-The information provided is sourced from FlightAware.