Major Chinese airlines extend full refund offers for Japan-bound flights by 3 months

Largest state-owned carriers including China Southern and Air China continue free refunds or itinerary changes amid diplomatic row

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A China Eastern Airlines flight takes off from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport. The carrier is among several in China to have announced a full refund policy for Japan-bound flights. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 9:50pm, 5 Dec 2025Updated: 10:45pm, 5 Dec 2025

Major Chinese airlines have extended their offer of full refunds for flights to Japan for another three months, as the heated diplomatic row between Beijing and Tokyo shows no signs of easing.

On Friday, Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines – the country’s largest state-owned carriers – along with several others, including Hainan Airlines, Shandong Airlines, Spring Airlines and Xiamen Airlines, issued statements allowing free ticket refunds or itinerary changes for flights booked through March 28 next year.

Last month, Chinese carriers offered free ticket refunds or itinerary changes for Japan flights booked until December 31, hours after Beijing’s November 14 travel warning, which urged Chinese citizens to avoid visiting the country due to safety issues.

More than 1,900 flights from China to Japan scheduled for this month have been cancelled, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported on Monday, citing data from online platforms.

The figure represented more than 40 per cent of the flights from mainland China to Japan scheduled for December, according to CCTV.

More than 1,900 flights from China to Japan scheduled in December have been cancelled, according to CCTV. Photo: AFP

For years, Japan has been a top destination for Chinese tourists and popular among Chinese students.

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