• ANA Tile
    All Nippon Airways
    IATA/ICAO Code:
    NH/ANA
    Airline Type:
    Full Service Carrier
    Hub(s):
    Tokyo Haneda Airport, Tokyo Narita Airport
    Year Founded:
    1952
    Alliance:
    Star Alliance
    CEO:
    Koji Shibata
    Country:
    Japan
    Region:
    Asia
  • Japan-Airlines-Q1-Loss-Falls
    Japan Airlines
    IATA/ICAO Code:
    JL/JAL
    Airline Type:
    Full Service Carrier
    Hub(s):
    Tokyo Haneda Airport, Tokyo Narita Airport
    Year Founded:
    1951
    Alliance:
    oneworld
    CEO:
    Yuji Akasaka
    Country:
    Japan

Dubbed as what could be the strongest global storm ever to hit Japan, super typhoon 'Nanmadol' came with a level 5 alert and has forced evacuations and disrupted travel services in Japan's southwestern region. With the typhoon having already made landfall, the heavy rain and strong winds have made flying critically unsafe, forcing airlines to cancel several flight services within the country.The mass flight cancelations have amounted to more than 500 domestic flights inbound and outbound from the region, with many more planned to be grounded until Tuesday at the earliest. However, if the typhoon does not subside and reaches Tokyo by Tuesday as predicted, the grounding could last longer.

Cancelations from Japan Airlines

Japanese flag carrier Japan Airlines has so far canceled more than 370 flights for September 19th, which has interrupted the travel itineraries for more than 7,000 passengers. The airline has canceled all flights at Kikai, Tokunoshima, Okinoerabu, Yoron, Tarama, Okinawa Naha, Kumejima, New Ishigaki, Amamioshima, and Shimojishima Airports.

The airline warned that domestic flights from airports such as Niigata, Komatsu, Tokyo Haneda, Nagoya Chubu, Osaka Itami, Osaka Kansai, Nanki-Shirahama, Tajima, Oki, Okayama, Izumo, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi Ube, Tokushima, Takamatsu, Kochi, Matsuyama, and several others, would also be affected either by cancelations or lengthier delays due to possible issues of poor visibility.

Cancelations from All Nippon Airways

Another airline to suffer from a disrupted flight schedule would be All Nippon Airways (ANA). Similar to Japan Airlines, ANA canceled several flights from numerous airports, amounting to more than 600 flights and affecting more than 54,400 passengers. The affected airports on September 19th include Noto, Toyama, Komatsu, Hachijojima, Nagoya Chubu, Osaka Itami, Osaka Kansai, Kobe, Tottori, Yonago, Hagi Iwami, Okayama, and Hiroshima, to name some.

Then on September 20th, flights from Tottori, Yonago, Hagi Iwami, Okayama, Hiroshima, Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Ube, Tokushima, Takamatsu, Kochi, Matsuyama, and Hachijojima Airports will be heavily affected. ANA has warned that many flights from these airports have been canceled, and several more cancelations or delays could be made if issues such as low visibility persist.

A stump in recovery

Other smaller Japanese carriers are also canceling flight services from Monday through to Tuesdays, primarily on routes serving airports in the Kyushu and Shikoku regions. And although the flights affected are generally domestic, the mass cancelations and delays still hinder the recovery of the aviation industry, which has been slow due to Japan's tight pandemic restrictions. Despite the unrestricted tourist access due to commence in October, the prolonged effect of its border closure could still linger.

To highlight how far Japanese carriers have been lagging, ANA's recently updated international flight schedule for Europe has it operating well below pre-pandemic levels from October till March next year. Japan Airlines is only doing slightly better with an operation rate of 53 to 55% for its international routes from October till January next year. And as the airlines' domestic sectors are being relatively hit by weather issues with the ongoing typhoon season in Japan, their overall profitability is still negatively affected.

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Source: NHK News