Spring Japan (a subsidiary of Spring Airlines) has issued an operational notice confirming that flight IJ002 from Shanghai Pudong to Tokyo Narita on 22 February will depart two hours later than scheduled due to adverse weather over the Kanto region. Check-in remains open until 03:40 local time, and passengers are offered free rebooking within 30 days or a full refund. (en.ch.com)
Although a routine incident, the alert is a timely reminder that winter weather on both sides of the East China Sea frequently disrupts short-haul business itineraries. Narita logged 14 de-icing-related delays in the past week, while Shanghai’s Pudong has dealt with intermittent fog, according to airport-ops data.
If you still need to arrange travel documentation, VisaHQ can streamline the process: the platform provides up-to-date visa requirements, application assistance, and courier services for both Chinese and Japanese documents, helping travelers avoid last-minute surprises. You can review options here: https://www.visahq.com/china/
![Weather delays Shanghai–Tokyo Spring Japan flight, highlighting seasonal disruption risks]()
For travel managers moving staff between China and Japan, contingency buffers of at least half a day are advisable during February–March. Employers should also verify that travellers are booked on fares allowing date changes without punitive penalties—a feature common on Japanese carriers but less so on LCCs like Spring.
Spring’s notice underscores improving passenger-rights practices among Chinese low-cost airlines, which have faced criticism for opaque disruption handling. The carrier now publishes delay advisories in English and Chinese and accepts online refund applications, aligning with Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) guidance issued last year.
While the immediate business impact is limited, corporates with just-in-time production schedules or client meetings in Tokyo should monitor weather advisories and build remote-work alternatives into trip plans.
Although a routine incident, the alert is a timely reminder that winter weather on both sides of the East China Sea frequently disrupts short-haul business itineraries. Narita logged 14 de-icing-related delays in the past week, while Shanghai’s Pudong has dealt with intermittent fog, according to airport-ops data.
If you still need to arrange travel documentation, VisaHQ can streamline the process: the platform provides up-to-date visa requirements, application assistance, and courier services for both Chinese and Japanese documents, helping travelers avoid last-minute surprises. You can review options here: https://www.visahq.com/china/
For travel managers moving staff between China and Japan, contingency buffers of at least half a day are advisable during February–March. Employers should also verify that travellers are booked on fares allowing date changes without punitive penalties—a feature common on Japanese carriers but less so on LCCs like Spring.
Spring’s notice underscores improving passenger-rights practices among Chinese low-cost airlines, which have faced criticism for opaque disruption handling. The carrier now publishes delay advisories in English and Chinese and accepts online refund applications, aligning with Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) guidance issued last year.
While the immediate business impact is limited, corporates with just-in-time production schedules or client meetings in Tokyo should monitor weather advisories and build remote-work alternatives into trip plans.
