Hundreds of flights and some bullet train services will be suspended as Typhoon Ampil makes its way toward Japan’s main island Friday, impacting travel plans during the country’s annual summer break.
Japan Airlines Co. canceled 28 international flights bound for the US, Australia and other locations, disrupting travel for about 5,000 passengers. All Nippon Airways Co. scrapped plans for 20 flights scheduled for Europe and North America, impacting some 4,000 people.
Disruptions from tropical storms this time of year have become an annual occurrence in Japan and other countries in the region. They’re also more severe, causing factories to halt production and companies telling employees to stay at home. The latest typhoon, categorized as a severe tropical storm, will be at its closest around midday Friday, according to weather forecasters.
Air travel within the country is set to impact approximately 95,000 passengers, the two airlines said in separate announcements. ANA canceled 281 domestic flights, affecting some 60,600 passengers who were to fly to areas including Osaka, Fukuoka and Okinawa. JAL terminated 191 domestic flights, disturbing plans for about 34,000 travelers.
Japan’s weather agency urged residents to be careful of high waves, landslides, flooding of low-lying areas and rising or overflowing rivers in eastern Japan, telling people to pay close attention to information to be provided by local authorities.
Bullet train services between Tokyo and Nagoya will be halted throughout Friday as the typhoon brings heavy rain and strong winds, according to Central Japan Railway Co. Operations between Shin-Osaka and Nagoya will also be reduced.
East Japan Railway Co., which operates bullet trains to Aomori, Akita and Kanazawa, also said there may be disruptions on some routes in the Kanto region surrounding Tokyo.
East Nippon Expressway Co., which manages expressways in the Kanto region and Hokkaido, warned that some roads may be shut from Friday through Saturday, and asked travelers to reconsider their plans.
Photograph: A passenger aircraft taxies on a runway at night at the Kansai International Airport in Izumisano City, Osaka, Japan. Photo credit: Buddhika Weerasinghe/Bloomberg
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Consumers’ Refusal to Keep Paying Higher Prices May Halt Inflation Spike 
Allstate to Sell Employer Voluntary Benefits Business to StanCorp for $2 Billion 
More People Moving In Than Out of Counties With High Catastrophe Risk 
Ford, Mazda Advise Against Driving Certain Models Over Takata Airbag Concerns 
