Chinese carriers have executed one of their largest collective schedule cuts since the pandemic, wiping out a quarter of planned China–Japan flights for December 2025. Data compiled by OAG and analysed by AeroRoutes show 16 airlines reducing one-way frequencies from 4,703 to 3,537 and seats from 884,148 to 672,568. Flagships such as China Eastern, China Southern and Air China are trimming Osaka Kansai, Sapporo and Tokyo Narita service, while niche operators like Loong Air and 9 Air have shelved Japan entirely.
The sharp pull-back follows Beijing’s late-November travel advisory warning citizens of “security risks” after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan. Booking platforms report Chinese leisure demand for Japan’s New-Year holiday has cratered; Global Times cites cancellations on 72 routes and a 16 percent outright scrapping of December flights. Kansai International Airport is bracing for 30,000–40,000 fewer Chinese visitors through March.
![Chinese Airlines Slash Japan Capacity by 25 % Amid Diplomatic Tension]()
Beyond aviation, Japanese retailers are feeling the chill. High-street brands reliant on Chinese tourist spending note double-digit declines in advance group bookings, and Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel has already recorded deferred banquet reservations from mainland corporates. Meanwhile, Chinese OTAs say Thailand and South Korea have surged to the top of outbound search rankings as substitute destinations.
For corporate mobility planners, the capacity cuts mean tighter seat supply, higher fares and longer routings for assignees commuting between China and Japan. Employers should encourage early ticketing, consider alternative gateways (e.g., Seoul or Taipei) and monitor further schedule filings due mid-December, when carriers finalise Lunar-New-Year timetables.
Should the diplomatic rift persist, analysts expect bilateral air capacity to finish 2025 at barely 55 % of pre-COVID levels, delaying full recovery of the region’s once-bustling business-travel corridor.
The sharp pull-back follows Beijing’s late-November travel advisory warning citizens of “security risks” after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan. Booking platforms report Chinese leisure demand for Japan’s New-Year holiday has cratered; Global Times cites cancellations on 72 routes and a 16 percent outright scrapping of December flights. Kansai International Airport is bracing for 30,000–40,000 fewer Chinese visitors through March.
Beyond aviation, Japanese retailers are feeling the chill. High-street brands reliant on Chinese tourist spending note double-digit declines in advance group bookings, and Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel has already recorded deferred banquet reservations from mainland corporates. Meanwhile, Chinese OTAs say Thailand and South Korea have surged to the top of outbound search rankings as substitute destinations.
For corporate mobility planners, the capacity cuts mean tighter seat supply, higher fares and longer routings for assignees commuting between China and Japan. Employers should encourage early ticketing, consider alternative gateways (e.g., Seoul or Taipei) and monitor further schedule filings due mid-December, when carriers finalise Lunar-New-Year timetables.
Should the diplomatic rift persist, analysts expect bilateral air capacity to finish 2025 at barely 55 % of pre-COVID levels, delaying full recovery of the region’s once-bustling business-travel corridor.
