Radiation fears from the crippled Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear power plant in Japan are affecting the flight plans of both international and domestic airlines today.
On Tuesday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that it was working with domestic airlines and Japanese officials to limit air traffic near the Fukushima plant.
The FAA said it was ensuring that domestic airlines understood and complied with the airspace restrictions.
So far, the largest U.S. airlines with service to Japan, United, Continental, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines, have not rerouted any flights.
International carriers, however, have rerouted their planes to other Japanese cities as explosions and fires break out at Fukushima Dai-Ichi, and workers struggled to avert a nuclear meltdown.
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Lufthansa rerouted flights scheduled to land in Tokyo today, opting to fly into Nagoya and Osaka, and moving overnight crews to Seoul, South Korea. The German carrier cited radiation risks as the reason behind avoiding having staff stay overnight in Japan.
Air France, while continuing to serve Tokyo, is also routing flights and personnel to Seoul. Italian carrier Alitalia announced on Sunday that it would bring additional crew on its flights to avoid having crew overnight in Tokyo.
Other airlines are simply cutting flights. Air China said Tuesday it would cancel 14 flights scheduled to leave for Tokyo this month and five flights to Sapporo. All flights to the submerged Sendai airport have been canceled by Air China until June 30.
Radiation fears have even prompted Malaysia’s main airport to begin screening passengers flying in from Japan for radiation. Similar screenings are being considered in South Korea.
Airlines are not the only form of transportation being forced to change their travel plans. Today, Oceania Cruises announced that it would cancel all its calls in Japan. The cruise company joins Cunard Line and Azamara Club Cruises, which canceled calls last weekend.
By Adriana Padilla for PeterGreenberg.com.
Related Links: Bloomberg, San Francisco Chronicle, Agence France-Presse, USA Today
Related Links on PeterGreenberg.com:
- Japan Earthquake Update: Travel Advisory Issued
- 8.9 Earthquake in Japan: Assessing The Damage, Death Toll
- Hiroshima & Nagasaki Mount Joint Bid For 2020 Olympics
- Natural Disasters section
- Japan Travel section
