2 1 Shi Ji Jing Ji Bao Dao·2026-01-26 09:15Group 1 - Major Chinese airlines, including Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines, announced free ticket changes and cancellations for flights to and from Japan scheduled between March 29, 2026, and October 24, 2026, for tickets purchased before January 26, 2026 [1][9] - The announcement indicates a contraction in the Japanese travel market, with significant losses of Chinese tourists expected during major holidays in 2026, including Qingming, Labor Day, summer vacation, Mid-Autumn Festival, and National Day [1] - Data shows that in 2025, the number of Chinese tourists to Japan reached 9.09 million, a 30% increase from 6.98 million in 2024, but there was a notable decline in November and December 2025, with visitor numbers dropping to 560,000 and 330,000 respectively [2][1] Group 2 - Since November 15, 2025, Chinese airlines have canceled a significant number of flights to Japan, with a cancellation rate of 47.2% in January 2026, an increase of 7.8 percentage points from December 2025 [1] - As of January 26, 2026, a total of 49 routes for February 2026 have had all flights canceled, indicating a severe reduction in flight availability [1]