Airlines cancel flights to, from Japan due to Typhoon ‘Hagibis’

MANILA, Philippines — Thirty-seven flights to or from Japan this weekend have been canceled due to Typhoon “Hagibis” which is forecast to hit Tokyo and its environs on Saturday.

Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Japan Airlines canceled five flights out of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Friday and other airlines also canceled a total of 31 flights for Saturday.

For Sunday, PAL also canceled one more flight to Narita.

The Manila International Airport Authority advised all affected passengers to coordinate with their airlines for rebooking, rescheduling or refund options.

Cebu Pacific said passengers from its six canceled flights on Saturday will be rebooked on Sunday.

At the same time, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday advised Filipinos in Japan to be alert with Hagibis expected to hit the East Asian country this weekend.

‘Violent typhoon’

The DFA, in a statement, said the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo has asked Filipinos in Japan “to be careful as heavy rains, strong winds, high waves, and storm surges are likely to occur, and to avoid traveling to potentially affected areas until the typhoon has dissipated.”

Filipinos in need of assistance may call the embassy hotline, the DFA added.

The Japan Meteorological Agency has categorized Hagibis as a “violent typhoon,” the highest category on Japan’s typhoon scale.

Japan-based airlines have also announced cancellation of a number of their domestic flights starting Friday.