Typhoon Jangmi cancels 173 flights

Typhoon Jangmi disrupted flights across Japan as the storm moved from Okinawa toward Kyushu and then toward wider parts of the archipelago, forcing airlines and airports to issue rolling cancellation notices. Japan Airlines said on June 2 that flights to and from Tokyo Haneda, Tokyo Narita and Osaka Kansai could face irregular operations through June 3. Nippon TV said JAL had already canceled 124 flights to and from Kyushu and other areas for June 2, while Haneda Airport said some flights had been canceled from June 1 because of Typhoon No. 6, the storm later identified as Jangmi. The disruption stretched beyond a single airport. JAL’s weather notices said domestic services on June 2 and international services on June 2-3 were being affected by bad weather linked to Typhoon Jangmi. The airline said passengers whose flights were delayed or canceled could change to another flight or seek a refund, and warned that its contact center was facing significant wait times. (jal.co.jp) ### Where did the storm hit first, and where was it headed next? Okinawa was the first major area hit as Jangmi approached southwestern Japan on June 1. Nippon TV said the storm was moving northward toward Okinawa Prefecture on the morning of June 1, with warnings for violent winds and high waves on the main island of Okinawa. The broadcaster, citing the Japan Meteorological Agency, said the system was expected to approach the Amami region of Kagoshima Prefecture by the morning of June 2 before accelerating eastward toward Kyushu and Shikoku. (jal.co.jp) June 3 was the next key date in official forecasts. Nippon TV said the typhoon was likely to reach a wide range of areas on Honshu on June 3, with possible effects on Osaka, Nagoya and Tokyo. JAL separately said flight operations to and from Tokyo Haneda, Tokyo Narita and Osaka Kansai on June 2-3 would be decided based on the latest weather information. (ntv.co.jp) ### Which airlines and routes were affected? Japan Airlines was one of the main carriers to publish specific disruption notices. Nippon TV said JAL and All Nippon Airways canceled all flights between Haneda Airport in Tokyo and Naha Airport in Okinawa on June 1. For the same day, the broadcaster said ANA canceled 104 flights connecting Okinawa with other locations and JAL canceled 71 flights, affecting more than 20,000 passengers combined. (ntv.co.jp) Travel And Tour World reported 173 cancellations and 20 delays across routes including Tokyo, Okinawa, Kagoshima, Osaka, Fukuoka and Taiwan, affecting Japan Airlines, Japan Air Commuter and Japan Transocean Air operations. That outlet said some passengers were left stranded. Reuters could not independently confirm the full 173-flight total from carrier-by-carrier notices reviewed for this article, but JAL’s own advisories and Japanese media reports showed broad disruption across the same travel corridor. (ntv.co.jp) ### What were airlines telling passengers to do? JAL told passengers to keep checking flight status as decisions were updated. The airline said operation information would be reflected in its arrival and departure search system as soon as decisions were made, and advised customers booked through travel agencies to contact those agencies directly for changes. Haneda Airport issued the same basic instruction. (jal.co.jp) Japan Airport Terminal Co. said on June 1 that some departing and arriving flights had been canceled because of the storm and told travelers to check directly with their airline for details. ### What comes next for travelers? June 3 is the next checkpoint for flight operations. JAL said Tokyo Haneda, Tokyo Narita and Osaka Kansai could continue to face disruption on June 2 and June 3, while ANA said Narita and Haneda operations on June 3 could also be affected by Typhoon Jangmi. (jal.co.jp) Travelers on those routes were being directed to airline flight-status pages for the next round of updates. (tokyo-haneda.com)