INTERNATIONAL – In a major disruption to regional air travel, China has cancelled all scheduled flights on 49 air routes to Japan for February 2026, dramatically shrinking connections between the two East Asian neighbours as diplomatic tensions simmer, according to The Straits Times and flight data from the Flight Master platform. Previously, the cancellation rate for China-to-Japan flights in January hit 47.2 per cent, up nearly eight percentage points from December, signaling a steep drop in demand and airline capacity even before the blanket cancellations were confirmed.
The decision affects services to major Japanese cities including Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Sapporo and Okinawa, erasing entire route schedules and leaving would-be travellers scrambling for alternatives or refunds. China’s three largest carriers — Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines — issued notices on January 26 outlining special ticket-handling policies. Under these measures, passengers holding tickets issued before midday that day for flights between March 29 and October 24, 2026 are entitled to one free change (subject to fare differences) or a fee-free refund on unused flight segments.
Analysts and travel experts say the cancellations stem not only from weak passenger demand but also from broader political and safety concerns. Chinese authorities have repeatedly issued travel advisories warning citizens against visiting Japan, citing what the foreign ministry called deteriorating public security conditions and heightened concerns over crime, natural disasters and disease outbreaks, as detailed by China Daily. One official travel advisory bluntly stated that “Chinese citizens in Japan are facing serious safety threats,” a message that has dampened enthusiasm for travel and contributed to a steep decline in arrivals.
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The impact is already visible in visitor statistics: Japan’s immigration figures for December 2025 showed a significant drop in Chinese arrivals — down roughly 40 per cent year-on-year — underscoring the sharp contraction in tourism that comes with the travel curbs and advisories.
While the move has exacerbated tensions that have grown since remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi about Taiwan drew ire in Beijing, it also reflects the shifting landscape of regional travel preferences. Data suggests Chinese tourists are increasingly turning to alternative destinations such as South Korea, Thailand and Malaysia during peak holiday periods like the Spring Festival, partly due to easier visa processes and the uncertainty surrounding Japan flights.
For passengers and airlines alike, this widespread cancellation strategy has created logistical headaches: travel plans are being upended, refunds and rescheduling systems are being pushed to capacity, and carriers are realigning schedules to balance operational costs with the drastically reduced traffic to Japan. As airlines and governments navigate the fallout, the pause in China-Japan flight services is shaping up as one of the most tangible effects of the broader diplomatic chill — a stark reminder of how political currents can swiftly ripple through one of Asia’s busiest travel corridors.
