Japan Takes Drastic Step to Suspend All Flights to Japan, Including Those Carrying Its Own Citizens

On the 30th of last month, the first day the Japanese government strengthened entry restrictions to block the influx of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, an official wearing a mask is working at the security checkpoint of Narita International Airport in Narita City, Chiba Prefecture, the gateway to the Tokyo metropolitan area.

Due to the new COVID-19 variant Omicron, it has become virtually impossible for Japanese nationals currently staying overseas to enter Japan until the end of this month.

According to NHK on the 1st, Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism requested all airlines not to accept new reservations for international flights destined for Japan until the end of December as an entry restriction measure to prevent the spread of Omicron.

Accordingly, Japan's two major airlines, All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines, have suspended the sale of tickets for these flights starting today.

Even Japanese nationals staying abroad will be unable to enter Japan if they have not secured a ticket by the previous day.

Earlier, the Japanese government had, starting from the 30th of last month, basically banned new entries of foreigners for a planned period of one month.

The Japanese government had increased the daily entry limit through international airports from 3,500 to 5,000 last month, but with the global spread of Omicron infections, it decided to reduce the limit back to 3,500 starting today.

NHK reported that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism stated that the preventive measure of not allowing overseas nationals who have not yet booked tickets to return within the year is unavoidable as an emergency response measure.