Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has approved applications from 130 airlines for scheduled international services in the winter 2026 schedule, running from October 25, 2026, through March 27, 2027.
During the initial period (the first week, October 25–31), the number of flights will total 6,094.5 round trips per week, comprising 5,524.5 passenger-service round trips and 570 cargo-service round trips per week. This represents a 2% decrease from the same period a year earlier, with passenger services down 3% and cargo services up 2%.
By region, routes to China saw a significant 49% decline. Meanwhile, Asian routes increased, including South Korea by 18%, Taiwan by 11%, Hong Kong by 10%, Malaysia by 25%, and India by 52%. European routes also increased, with services to the United Kingdom up 13% and Finland up 36%.
By airline category, foreign carriers recorded a 5% decline, or 222 fewer weekly round trips, while Japanese carriers increased by 6%, or 67.5 additional weekly round trips.
Among Japan’s five major airports, Tokyo/Narita increased by 4%, Tokyo/Haneda by 2%, and Fukuoka by 5%. In contrast, Osaka/Kansai declined by 17% and Nagoya/Chubu by 16%. Regional airports as a whole recorded a 4% increase. Although China services fell by 86%, services to South Korea rose by 21%, Taiwan by 19%, Hong Kong by 15%, Singapore by 125%, and Vietnam by 133%.
New services will include Air Busan’s Busan–Kagoshima route, operating three weekly round trips from October 25; STARLUX Airlines’ Taichung–Nagoya/Chubu route, operating five weekly round trips from October 25 and seven from November 1; Tigerair Taiwan’s Kaohsiung–Kumamoto route, operating two weekly round trips from October 27; Air New Zealand’s Christchurch–Tokyo/Narita route, operating four weekly round trips from November 27; Air Premia’s Incheon–Sapporo/Chitose route, operating four weekly round trips from December 2; United Airlines’ San Francisco–Sapporo/Chitose route, operating three weekly round trips from December 11; Air Canada’s Vancouver–Sapporo/Chitose route, operating three weekly round trips from December 18; Vietjet Air’s Da Nang–Osaka/Kansai route, operating four weekly round trips from December 20; Korean Air’s Incheon–Hiroshima route, operating seven weekly round trips from December 23; Aero K’s Cheongju–Kumamoto route, operating three weekly round trips from December 23; and STARLUX Airlines’ Kaohsiung–Naha route, operating seven weekly round trips from January 1, 2027.
