Flights Operating Without Disruption
“Not Many Cancellations of Travel Reservations”
On July 28, a powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture in Kyushu, Japan, raising concerns among Korean tourists preparing for their trips. However, Kumamoto-bound flights are operating as usual, and there has not been a significant increase in travel booking cancellations, indicating no clear change in travel demand so far.
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Kumamoto Route Maintains Normal Operations…”No Additional Cancellations or Delays Planned”
As of July 29, industry sources report that airlines operating flights to Kumamoto—including Korean Air, T’way Air, and Eastar Jet—have stated there are currently no plans for schedule changes or flight cancellations.
Currently, Korean Air operates the Incheon-Kumamoto route three times a week (Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays), while T’way Air offers daily flights. Eastar Jet also flies the Gimhae-Kumamoto route daily.
While one Korean Air flight was canceled on the day of the earthquake, Eastar Jet and T’way Air operated as scheduled. The runway at Kumamoto Airport, which was temporarily closed immediately after the earthquake, has now resumed operations.
An airline industry representative said, “Inquiries about normal flight operations have increased somewhat since the earthquake, but they have not led to actual cancellations. So far, we are operating according to the original schedule, with no additional cancellations, delays, or changes.”
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Travel Industry: “Cancellations Remain Limited”…Continuous Inquiries About Normal Departures
The travel industry is also seeing little movement in booking cancellations. Since major infrastructure such as airports and roads have not been directly affected, there have been no significant disruptions to itineraries.
A travel industry official commented, “Most inquiries are about whether departures will proceed as normal. Based on figures compiled as of this morning, there has not been a noticeable increase in cancellations compared to usual levels.” There are also reports of ongoing inquiries from customers who have booked travel packages to neighboring Kyushu areas such as Fukuoka and Nagasaki.
However, the industry is closely monitoring the situation, as travel sentiment could change depending on the occurrence of aftershocks and the extent of additional damage. Another travel industry representative stated, “Future aftershocks could impact cancellation decisions. In the past, major earthquakes in Japan have dampened travel demand not only in the affected area but also in other regions such as Osaka and Sapporo.”
“Aftershock Risk Continues for a Week”…Travelers Should Check Safety Information
Meanwhile, the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) is providing real-time information on earthquakes and tsunamis via its dedicated “Japan Safe Travel” website. In the event of a tsunami warning, it urges people to avoid coastal and riverside areas and to evacuate to higher ground immediately.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that, as of now, no casualties involving Korean nationals have been reported, and that it continues to closely monitor the local situation and safety information.
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The Japan Meteorological Agency has advised that there is still a possibility of strong aftershocks, with a maximum seismic intensity of 7, for about one week following this earthquake. People are urged to refrain from unnecessary travel to hazardous areas and to keep up-to-date with the latest disaster information.
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