AIRLINES are restarting flights to Okinawa today as Typhoon Neoguri, with winds of up to 250km per hour, moves towards the north of the East China Sea.
All Nippon Airways (ANA) said normal operations are expected for domestic flights to and from Okinawa’s Naha, Miyako and Ishigaki airports today, except for a number of morning flights.
ANA advised: “Since all flights from Okinawa Naha airport were cancelled for yesterday (July 8), counters and security check points at Okinawa Naha airport expect to be congested today. Please allow extra time to get to the airport as check-in will be accepted from two hours before departure time. We apologise for any inconvenience, and appreciate your understanding.”
However, flights from or to the southern Kyushu region today and tomorrow may be diverted or turn around depending on weather conditions, with afternoon flights to Oita, Miyazaki and Kagoshima particularly likely to be affected. Certain flights have already been cancelled.
Passengers are advised to check their flight status beforehand.
Flag carrier Japan Airlines also stated that domestic operations would return to normal today, although Amami-Oshima Airport flights may experience irregular operations.
Originally a super typhoon, Typhoon Neoguri lost strength as it approached the islands of Okinawa where emergency rain and high-seas warnings were issued and over 100,000 people urged to evacuate.
International flights were cancelled earlier this week as Typhoon Neoguri approached.
According to Focus Taiwan news channel, China Airlines cancelled two roundtrip flights between Taipei and Okinawa on Tuesday and postponed flights from Taichung and Kaohsiung by subsidiary Mandarin Airlines to Wednesday. Eva Air pushed back its Taipei-Okinawa flight to early Wednesday morning while TransAsia Airways scrapped its Taipei-Okinawa Tuesday flight.
China information site eChinacities.com also reported that China Eastern Airlines cancelled its scheduled flights between Shanghai and Okinawa on Monday due to the typhoon.
