China's three major airlines extend refunds and Japan flight changes to March 2026, Yicai reports
Three major Chinese airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Air China, and China Southern Airlines, have extended their policy of offering refunds and charge-free changes for Japan-related flights until March 28, 2026. This extension, reported by Yicai, applies to inbound, outbound, or stopover flights involving Japan. The policy was initially set to expire at the end of 2025 and is part of China's response to remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan.
BEIJING, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Three major Chinese airlines will offer refunds and charge-free changes to Japan-related flights until March 28 next year, state-owned news outlet Yicai reported on Friday, extending an existing policy set to expire at the end of 2025.
China Eastern Airlines, Air China and China Southern Airlines made the announcements separately, allowing inbound, outbound or stopover flights involving Japan before March 28, 2026 eligible for the policy, according to Yicai.
Previously, more than 10 Chinese airlines have provided refunds on Japan-bound routes until December 31, as part of China’s response to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks about Taiwan.
Takaichi sparked the most serious diplomatic dispute in years between Asia’s top two economies when she told Japanese lawmakers last month that a Chinese attack on Taiwan threatening Japan’s survival could trigger a military response.
