Typhoon Champi Cancels Flights Across Okinawa and Taiwan as JAL, ANA and China Airlines Cut Schedules

Typhoon Champi flight cancellations spread to Japan’s southern islands and Taiwan on October 21, 2026. Japan Airlines said many flights at nine island airports, including Naha, would be cancelled between October 22 and 24, and ANA cancelled all of its Miyako and Ishigaki flights for October 23.

In Taiwan, China Airlines and Tigerair Taiwan cancelled Thursday’s flights to Okinawa, and two domestic carriers dropped some services to the outlying islands. It is the second round of disruption from the same storm, which grounded flights at Guam over the weekend.

Which flights are cancelled

JAL’s domestic flight notice, issued at 10 p.m. Japan time on October 21, lists the airports where “many of the flights” have been cancelled. On October 22 they are Tokunoshima, Okinoerabu, Yoron, Naha Airport, Miyako, Tarama, Ishigaki and Yonaguni.

On October 23 the list drops Naha and adds Kumejima. By October 24 it narrows to Kumejima, Miyako, Tarama, Ishigaki and Yonaguni, and JAL says final decisions depend on the latest weather.

ANA, whose notice refers to the storm by its Japanese number, Typhoon No. 30, said some Miyako and Ishigaki flights from the afternoon of October 22 are cancelled and both airports lose all ANA flights on October 23. It added two extra flights out of Ishigaki on October 22, to Naha and to Nagoya Chubu, ahead of the shutdown.

ANA is also letting passengers on flights to and from the listed airports change or refund tickets without a fee, even if their flight still operates. It also flagged Naha as at risk on October 22 and 23, and Miyako and Ishigaki through October 24.

Taiwan’s carriers acted for Thursday, October 22, Focus Taiwan reported. China Airlines cancelled three Okinawa round trips, from Taoyuan, Taichung and Kaohsiung, and moved a second Taichung flight earlier. Tigerair Taiwan cancelled six flights linking Okinawa with Taoyuan, Kaohsiung, Taichung and Tainan.

EVA Air and Starlux said their flights were unchanged as of Wednesday but warned of possible changes in the days ahead. Domestically, Uni Air and Mandarin Airlines cancelled some Thursday flights to Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu.

Where Champi is heading

As of 2 p.m. Taiwan time on October 21, Champi was about 565 miles (910 km) east-southeast of Eluanbi, Taiwan’s southern tip, moving northwest at 12 mph (19 km/h), according to Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration. The CWA put its maximum sustained winds at 130 mph (209 km/h).

The CWA said a sea warning could come late Wednesday or early Thursday and a land warning on Thursday afternoon. It expects Champi to weaken as it turns north, with its biggest impact on Taiwan on Friday and Saturday, before it moves away toward Japan’s Kyushu region on Saturday.

The South China Morning Post called Champi the strongest storm of the year worldwide and reported that authorities were planning evacuations as it headed toward eastern China. At the time of writing, we found no confirmed flight cancellations at mainland Chinese airports.

Thailand’s Meteorological Department told travelers bound for Taiwan between October 21 and 24 to follow weather and flight updates, The Star reported.

Why the wind numbers do not match

Readers will see very different strengths quoted for Champi. Stars and Stripes, citing the US Joint Typhoon Warning Center, put its sustained winds at about 178 mph (286 km/h) on October 21, with gusts to 218 mph (351 km/h).

Part of that gap is method. The JTWC uses one-minute average winds, while Japan’s regional typhoon center uses 10-minute averages, so JTWC estimates for intense typhoons typically come out higher, a Hong Kong Observatory paper explains.

Why airlines cancel days ahead

The notices follow a familiar pattern: cancellations announced a day or more before the worst weather, which keeps aircraft and passengers from being caught at small island airports.

ANA’s two extra Ishigaki departures fit that pattern: one last chance to move passengers off the island before a full day without flights. Whether a jet can fly through a hurricane is a separate question: an island airport in the storm’s path simply closes to traffic.

The same storm cleared Guam’s cancelled flights only days ago, after passing about 10 miles south of the island on Sunday. By Wednesday, power was back for 99% of Guam’s grid, Stars and Stripes reported, citing the Pacific Daily News.

Military flying is adjusting too. US and Japanese commanders are changing parts of the Keen Sword exercise day by day, and a Japan Joint Staff spokesman told Stars and Stripes the storm had caused “no major impact” on the overall schedule.

Passengers booked to Okinawa, the outlying islands or Taiwan through the weekend should check their airline’s flight status before heading to the airport. Both JAL and ANA say their plans may change with the storm’s track.