World News

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GUANGZHOU -- Chinese airlines will cut Japan-bound flights starting later this month, in what appears to be an effort by carriers to conform with the government's call to avoid travel to the country.

The cuts have not been announced, but official booking websites show that state-owned Air China will reduce its flights between Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Kansai International Airport in Osaka to 16 per week from 21, starting Nov. 30.

From Dec. 1, flights between Chongqing in inland China and Narita International Airport near Tokyo will be cut to four per week from seven.

The airline had planned to step up flights between Beijing Capital International Airport and Sapporo on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido to seven per week from four beginning in December, but that increase will no longer take place.

China Eastern Airlines will suspend its four weekly flights between Chengdu Tianfu International Airport and Kansai beginning Dec. 1. From Dec. 2, weekly flights from Wuhan in Hubei province to Kansai will be cut to four from seven.

Sichuan Airlines will also reduce its Chengdu-Kansai flights in December.

The Chinese government has urged its citizens to hold off on traveling to Japan after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made comments about a potential crisis involving Taiwan. Major state-owned carriers such as Air China and China Eastern Airlines have been offering free cancellations for Japan-bound tickets since Nov. 15.

Hong Kong carrier Greater Bay Airlines has said it would waive fees for changes or refunds of Japan-bound tickets.

The measure reflects both the Chinese government's call for avoiding travel to Japan and a cautionary advisory issued by Hong Kong authorities.

Japan could lose up to $1.2 billion in tourism revenue by the end of the year because of cancellations by Chinese travelers, Bloomberg reported on Friday.