Major Chinese state-run airline Air China announced it will significantly reduce flights between Chinese and Japanese cities starting later this month, amid rising political tensions between the two countries. Flights between Shanghai and Osaka will drop from 21 round trips a week to 16. An airline official cited plane availability as the reason.
On November 22, 2025, in Guangzhou, China, major Chinese state-run airline Air China unveiled plans to significantly reduce the number of flights between Chinese and Japanese cities starting later this month. The company seems to have made the decision because of rising political tensions between the two countries.
According to Air China, the number of flights between Shanghai and Osaka will be reduced from the current 21 round trips a week to 16 from November 30 to March 28 next year. In December, the airline will reduce flights between Chongqing and Tokyo from the current seven round trips per week to four.
An official of the airline explained that the reductions are due to plane availability. Meanwhile, Sichuan Airlines, another Chinese airline company, decided to cancel all flights between Chengdu and Sapporo from January 1 to March 28 next year.
These cuts reflect strained relations between Japan and China, potentially impacting travel and business. While the official statement attributes the changes to operational reasons, the timing suggests underlying geopolitical factors.