Japanese Airlines Halt Flights as Typhoon Chan-hom Nears Tokyo

Major Japanese airlines, including Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways (ANA), canceled a significant number of flights on August 11 as Typhoon Chan-hom intensified and moved towards the country's main island, Honshu. The disruptions affected travel across the nation, impacting thousands of passengers.

By 11:15 a.m. local time, ANA announced the cancellation of all flights in and out of Narita Airport for the day. Numerous flights to and from Haneda Airport were also affected, along with services from airports in the northern cities of Sendai and Fukushima. Japan Airlines confirmed the cancellation of four domestic flights from Narita, impacting 568 travelers.

The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that the typhoon had maximum instantaneous gusts of 35 meters per second as of 9 a.m. It was projected to approach the Tokyo region during the afternoon and possibly make landfall overnight. The agency forecasts the storm will cross Honshu on August 12 before weakening into a tropical depression.

Authorities issued warnings for potential landslides in the northern Tohoku region. Additionally, residents in low-lying areas, including the Kanto region encompassing Tokyo, were advised to be cautious of possible flooding. The typhoon, named Chan-hom, derives its name from a type of fragrant sandalwood tree.