Most U.S. and international airlines canceled Friday flights to Tokyo because of the 8.9-magnitude earthquake that, while centered about 240 miles north, rocked the Japanese capital. It caused airports, including Narita International Airport near Toyko, to close (although a few flights were departing Narita on Friday, according to the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo), and forced the shutdown of the city's sprawling subway and railway system.
The State Department issued a travel advisory Friday urging Americans to avoid vacations and nonessential trips to Japan because of the transportation difficulties at airports and beyond.
"Public transportation, including trains and subways, are closed in the Tokyo area, and service has been interrupted in other areas. Many roads have been damaged in the Tokyo area and in northern Japan," said the State Department. It also cautioned that strong aftershocks could occur for weeks.
It's likely that air travel will be disrupted for days; U.S. airlines are allowing passengers to delay their flights to Japan without penalties.
United Airlines has issued a travel waiver through Tuesday for flights to or through Japan, letting passengers change flights scheduled before then without the usual penalty fees. American Airlines is allowing travelers to change flights scheduled through Friday.
Travelers should check on airlines' websites or with their travel agents for detailed flight-change policies.
More information
Those seeking additional information can contact:
• TRAVEL ADVISORY: For the U.S. State Department's advice on delaying travel to Japan, see travel.state.gov or phone 888-407-4747 for recorded information.
• U.S. Embassy: The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo closed Friday because of the earthquake but was issuing updates online for American residents and travelers: tokyo.usembassy.gov
• OTHER: U.S. citizens in Japan (or their relatives) may e-mail the State Department at JapanEmergencyUSC@state.gov.
-- The Seattle Times
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