SAS has canceled all of its approximately 300 flights to Tokyo during the current winter season, due to COVID restrictions and obstacles in Russian airspace.
Number of passengers affected: approximately 6,000.
This was stated by Anna Sandell, press manager at the airline, to Di on Wednesday after one of the affected passengers contacted him. SAS surprised him on Wednesday with news of the canceled flight, which was intended to take place on January 14 from Arlanda to Tokyo – without giving any reason.
”"Unfortunately, we have had to change our flight schedule, which has affected your trip with us," the company writes succinctly in the message, which Di has seen.
”"Tokyo is a bit special given that they still have restrictive entry rules for tourists," says press manager Anna Sandell and continues:
”And the airspace over Russia is closed, which means we have to fly a detour to Tokyo. Given the situation, we were forced to cancel the trips in the winter program to Tokyo on September 12.”
All Tokyo flights through March 26 are canceled. However, Japan will relax the current visa requirement in less than two weeks, on October 11. After that, Swedes can visit Japan without a visa again, if they have a vaccination passport or take a PCR test upon entry.
Affected customers have been informed, according to the press manager, "and the vast majority have been given an alternative with Lufthansa.".
”"We are following developments in Japan closely and of course want to start flights there as soon as possible," she then states in an email.
She cannot answer what the 6,000 passengers and the 300 canceled flights mean in terms of lost revenue for SAS, but points out that it should be put in relation to SAS's approximately 300,000 annual flights.
Why didn't you state the reasons for the cancelled flight in your customer message?
”"I can't answer that, but it's no secret that the airspace over Russia is closed or that there are far-reaching corona restrictions in Japan. It's difficult for us to fly when it looks like that, there's nothing strange about it."”
Di's tipster booked his trip in May this year, when SAS allowed customers to book Tokyo flights – three months after Russia invaded Ukraine and just over two years after the Covid pandemic broke out.
According to Anna Sandell, the fact that SAS still sold airline tickets was due to hopes that the Japanese restrictions would be lifted, which has not happened.
Source: DI.SE
