It’s normal for airlines to temporarily suspend some routes if there’s a reduction in demand for a particular reason. The justifications can vary — maybe it’s because a destination is seasonal, maybe it’s due to unrest or security concerns at a destination, etc. However, this is a new one for me…
Hong Kong Airlines cuts Japan routes over earthquake rumors
For July and August of 2025, Hong Kong Airlines is canceling its flights to southern Japan, including to Kagoshima (KOJ) and Kumamoto (KMJ). What’s the reason? Well, an unfounded rumor that a major earthquake and tsunami will hit the country this summer.
In Hong Kong, the rumor has caused a decrease in travel demand to Japan. The impacts aren’t just lasting a couple of months, as airlines are reportedly seeing reduced demand for flights from Hong Kong to various points in Japan since May.
Hong Kong Airlines only resumed the Kagoshima route in the spring of last year, for the first time in four years. Then in December 2024, the airline increased the number of weekly roundtrip flights from three to four, due to strong demand. But now the airline is seeing demand declining, coinciding with these earthquake rumors.
The Japan National Tourism Organization has stated that the earthquake rumor has no scientific basis, and urged travelers to make travel plans based on scientific information provided by official organizations.
These rumors are from a Japanese comic book
Most people are probably thinking “earthquake rumor, huh?” Let me explain. A Japanese comic book (manga) warned of a devastating natural disaster in Japan. Specifically, “The Future I Saw” was first written in 1999 and republished in 2021, with the 2021 version claiming that a massive earthquake will hit Japan in July 2025.
The reason this causes concern is because the comic book’s author was correct in the past — the 1999 version warned of a major disaster in March 2011, which coincides with the massive earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan’s northern Tohoku region that month.
The republished manga warns that on “July 5 this year, a crack will open up under the seabed between Japan and the Philippines, sending ashore waves three times as tall as those from the Tohoku earthquake.” The author, Ryo Tatsuki, has a big following in East Asia, and her fans believe she can accurately see future events in her dreams.
One might not assume that this would cause a change in travel demand. However, one Hong Kong travel agency reports a 70-80% drop in demand for travel to Japan this year compared to last year, with this prediction being one of the primary reasons for that.
Personally I can’t make much sense of basing my travel plans on comic book predictions. But hey, everyone has to travel within their comfort zone, and I know there are a lot of superstitious people out there. So who am I to judge?
Bottom line
Hong Kong Airlines is suspending two routes to southern Japan for a couple of months this summer, specifically because a comic book predicts a major natural disaster in the country. The same comic book author “predicted” the March 2011 natural disaster in the country, and she now predicts another natural disaster in July 2025. I’ve gotta say, this is one of the more unusual reasons that I’ve seen for a route suspension.
What do you make of this Hong Kong Airlines route suspension?
