Japan Travel in Turmoil as Air Do, ANA Wings, Delta Air Lines and others Face over a Dozen Flight Cancellations with Hundreds of Delays across Tokyo, Sapporo, Osaka and Fukuoka, New Update

Published on December 28, 2025

Travel disruptions are sweeping across Japan today. Hundreds of passengers face sudden schedule changes at key transport hubs. Specifically, congestion now grips Tokyo, Sapporo, Osaka and Fukuoka. Many travelers arrived at airports only to find their plans in ruins. Carriers like Air Do and ANA Wings have canceled several flights already. Furthermore, hundreds of additional flights remain stuck on the tarmac. These delays create a massive backlog for the national aviation network. There’s a total of 18 flight cancellations and 620 delays reported. Travelers should check their flight status immediately before leaving for the terminal. This unfolding situation impacts both business commuters and international tourists alike. Therefore, staying informed is the best way to navigate this logistical hurdle. We have compiled the latest data to help you understand how these disruptions affect your upcoming journey.

Major Airports Affected

The ripple effects of the current scheduling irregularities are being felt most acutely at the nation’s busiest gateways.

In Tokyo, Haneda Airport has emerged as a focal point of the congestion. While only 4 total cancellations have been recorded at this facility, the volume of tardy arrivals and departures is staggering, with 295 total delays reported today. As the primary international and domestic artery for Japan, the backlog in Tokyo is expected to have a significant cascading effect on the national flight network.

Further north, New Chitose Airport, which serves as the gateway to Sapporo, is facing its own set of distinct hurdles. The facility has recorded 7 total cancellations—the highest number among the monitored airports—alongside 131 total delays. Given Sapporo’s reliance on air connectivity for both commerce and leisure, these disruptions represent a notable bottleneck for the Hokkaido region.

In the Kansai region, Itami Airport in Osaka has not been spared. Operational logs indicate that 5 total cancellations and 127 total delays have occurred at the Osaka hub today. Meanwhile, in the west, Fukuoka Airport has reported 2 total cancellations and 67 total delays. Although the figures in Fukuoka are lower than those seen in Tokyo, the localized impact on regional connectivity remains a point of concern for aviation analysts.

Impacted Airlines

The disruptions have been distributed across a variety of domestic and international carriers, with several specific airlines seeing their schedules heavily compromised.

Air Do has been identified as one of the most affected entities, with disruptions spanning multiple regions. At Haneda in Tokyo, the airline has seen 3 cancellations and 29 delays, while at New Chitose in Sapporo, an additional 3 cancellations and 17 delays were attributed to the carrier.

ANA Wings has also faced a difficult operational day, particularly in Sapporo and Osaka. The airline recorded 4 cancellations and 18 delays at New Chitose, followed by 3 cancellations and 33 delays at Itami Airport. These figures suggest a challenging day for the regional subsidiary as it attempts to maintain its scheduled service across Japan.

Other carriers caught in the turmoil include Japan Airlines, which reported 2 cancellations and a significant 73 delays in Osaka.

In the international sector, Delta Air Lines saw 1 cancellation and 3 delays at the Tokyo Haneda hub. Additionally, regional specialist Oriental Air Bridge was impacted in Fukuoka, where 2 cancellations and 10 delays were logged.

Beyond these specific figures, delays were being experienced by several other Airlines, like All Nippon, Peach Aviation, Skymark, Ibex, Tway Air and more. The diversity of the affected airlines underscores the widespread nature of the current aviation challenges facing Japan.

Probable Impact on Local Tourism

With hundreds of flights falling behind schedule, the tourism sectors in Tokyo, Sapporo, Osaka and Fukuoka are likely to experience immediate logistical friction. In Tokyo, where nearly 300 flights have been delayed, the hospitality industry may see a surge in late check-ins and shifted reservations. As the central heart of Japan, any delay in Tokyo often results in missed connections for travelers heading to more remote prefectures.

In Sapporo, the 7 cancellations may lead to a temporary decrease in visitor arrivals, potentially affecting local tours and seasonal activities that rely on precise timing. Similarly, in Osaka, the high volume of delays at Itami Airport could disrupt the tight schedules of business travelers and tourists exploring the historic Kansai region. Even in Fukuoka, where the numbers are more modest, the cancellations represent a loss of capacity for the gateway to Kyushu. The cumulative effect of these disruptions across Japan is a slower pace of movement for thousands of passengers, which inevitably influences the daily rhythm of local tourism economies.

What Affected Passengers Can Do Now

For those currently caught in the delays or cancellations across Tokyo, Sapporo, Osaka or Fukuoka, several steps are recommended to mitigate the inconvenience. Passengers are advised to monitor the official mobile applications and websites of their respective airlines—such as Air Do, ANA Wings or Japan Airlines—for the most real-time updates. Since the situation at airports like Haneda in Tokyo remains fluid, digital notifications are often the fastest way to receive rebooking information.

Furthermore, travelers impacted by the 18 total cancellations across Japan should consult with gate agents or customer service representatives regarding their rights for re-accommodation. In many instances of significant delays, vouchers for meals or alternative transportation may be provided by the carriers. It is also suggested that travel insurance policies be reviewed to determine if coverage for flight interruptions is applicable. As the aviation sector in Japan works to clear the backlog of 620 delayed flights, patience and proactive communication remain the most effective tools for the traveling public.

-The information provided is sourced from FlightAware.