Jetstar Japan faces first flight cancellations amid crew strike

Sunday, December 24, 2023

In an unprecedented move, budget carrier Jetstar Japan had to cancel two domestic flights on Sunday, marking the airline’s initial encounter with flight disruptions attributed to a crew shortage.

The affected flights were part of a round-trip service connecting Narita and Fukuoka airports. A spokesperson for the airline clarified that the cancellations were a consequence of the inability to secure the necessary crew for operation. Strikingly, this incident represents the first time Jetstar Japan has canceled flights due to crew shortages, with some members of the company’s flight crew labor union engaging in a strike since Friday.

Contrary to initial speculation that the strike caused the disruption, an official from Jetstar Japan cited illness as the primary reason for the cancellations. According to the union, approximately 120 members have been refusing unscheduled work since early December, protesting a breakdown in negotiations with management over employees’ unpaid wages. The core contention revolves around the company’s alleged miscalculation of overtime pay.

In response to the crew shortage, the airline has resorted to requesting crew members on holiday to substitute for colleagues unable to fulfill their duties due to illness. However, the ongoing strike, set to persist until January 7, poses a sustained challenge for Jetstar Japan’s operational stability.

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