China Extends Free Flight Cancellations to Japan by Three More Months as Japanese Tourism Takes a Direct Hit

Free Cancellations and Changes Extended
From End of This Year to March 28 Next Year

As Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi mentioned the possibility of Japan intervening in the event of a conflict between Taiwan and China, diplomatic relations between China and Japan have deteriorated. In response, China has increased pressure by extending the free cancellation period for its airlines' flights to Japan by three months, from the end of this year to March next year.

According to Chinese and Japanese media on December 6, major Chinese airlines such as Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines have decided to extend the free cancellation and change period for tickets on routes to Japan from the end of this year to March 28 next year.

Previously, on November 7, Prime Minister Takaichi stated in the House of Representatives that, for the first time as a sitting Japanese prime minister, "In the event of a Taiwan emergency, Japan could exercise its right to collective self-defense, which could be considered a 'situation threatening Japan's survival.'"

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Her remarks caused a stir, leading to strong criticism from China and calls for caution within Japan. However, Prime Minister Takaichi made it clear that she has no intention of retracting her statement. Following her remarks, Chinese authorities issued a warning to their citizens to refrain from traveling to or studying in Japan, which prompted Chinese airlines to offer free cancellations for flights to Japan.

This extension is expected to prolong the chilly relations between China and Japan. According to reports, in addition to flights departing from and arriving in Japan, flights transiting through Japan can also be canceled or changed free of charge.

The Japanese tourism industry has been hit hard. According to Tripla, a Japanese accommodation booking platform, hotel reservations from China between November 21 and 27 dropped by about 57% compared to November 6 to 12, before the Chinese government's advisory against travel to Japan. Kansai Airports, which operates Kansai International Airport in Osaka, stated that "the number of flights connecting Kansai Airport and China was reduced by about 34% in the second week of December," and "an average reduction of about 28% is expected in the first quarter of next year."

The Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau also found that about 50-70% of reservations by Chinese guests at around 20 hotels in the region were canceled through the end of December. The Kyoto City Tourism Association reported that "some accommodations are experiencing reservation cancellations." Nihon Keizai Shimbun pointed out, "Although this has not yet led to a decline in hotel prices, if the situation is prolonged, it could become a downward factor for the local economy."