Flights are beginning to resume at airports in Japan affected by this week’s Typhoon Jebi, as well as a powerful earthquake in the Hokkaido area. Additionally, area hotels are reporting in on their current status.
In the Hokkaido area, officials from Niseko Village tell Travel Agent that the resort is experiencing temporary power shortages due to blackouts caused by the earthquake, but it has activated its back-up generators in the interim. The resort, which is set at the base of the Niseko United ski area, is otherwise unaffected. YTL Hotels, which owns a number of properties in Niseko Village, reports that its hotels remain open and they are working to resume normal business operations as soon as possible over the next few days.
Officials from the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) report that there is no tsunami risk from the earthquake, which struck early Thursday morning local time. However, travelers should be on the lookout for aftershocks over the course of the next week.
New Chitose Airport, which was shut down by the earthquake, has partially resumed domestic flights as of September 7. On September 8, most domestic flights and all international flights are scheduled to be operated.
At Kansai International Airport in Osaka, which was closed by damage cause by damage from Typhoon Jebi earlier in the week, domestic flights have partially resumed as of September 7. International flights are expected to resume gradually starting September 8. Additionally, shuttle buses to and from the airport are available.
A number of airlines still have travel waivers in effect due to disruptions caused by both the typhoon and the earthquake:
Customers on American Airlines, Japan Airlines, British Airways, Iberia or Finnair who are scheduled to travel through Kansai through September 11 can rebook through September 14. They can also change their origin or destination city to or from Narita, Haneda or Nagoya, although a difference in fare will apply. For those scheduled to fly through Chitose through September 12, they can rebook through September 14, or change their origin or destination city to Hakodate, Asahikawa, Memanbetsu, Obihiro or Hushiro (difference in fare will apply). In all cases customers must rebook in the same cabin or pay the difference.
United Airlines is allowing customers scheduled to fly through Osaka through September 12 to rebook through September 23 in the originally ticketed cabin and between the original city pair. Customers can also opt to rebook after September 23, or change their departure or destination city, in which the change fee will be waived, but a difference in fare may apply. Rescheduled travel must be completed within one year from the date when the ticket was issued.
Delta is allowing customers booked to fly through Osaka through September 11 to rebook through September 17. Travelers can also rebook after September 17, but a difference in fare may apply. Rescheduled travel must be completed within one year from the date when the ticket was issued.
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