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Hong Kong Airlines suspends Japan flights as earthquake rumour reduces passenger demand
June 20th 2025
Hong Kong Airlines has decided to cancel flights to two cities in southern Japan in July and August as an unfounded rumour that a major earthquake and tsunami will hit the country cuts demand, Japan’s NHK reports. Read More » The rumour, reportedly based on a Japanese manga republished in 2021 in which the author claims to have dreamt of a major disaster striking Japan in July 2025 has resulted in a decline in bookings since March. As a result, Hong Kong Airlines has cancelled all flights to Kagoshima and Kumamoto in July and August. The Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) has said there is no scientific basis to the claim and urged travelers to rely on information from official sources when making travel plans. On June 19, the JNTO data reported 3.7 million foreign visitors arrived in Japan in May, up 21.5% from the same month a year ago. Hong Kong was the only country to record a decrease in air passenger traffic compared with the previous year.
