Japan earthquake travel update: Airlines divert flights, waive change fees

Airlines, responding to the massive earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan, were diverting flights from affected airports Friday and waiving change fees for travelers headed to or through the Asian nation.

As of early Friday Pacific time, all airport gates at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport (NRT), except for No. 6, remained closed, according to a notice on the airport’s website. It added: “Some departing flights are in service. All arriving flights will be redirected to other airports. For more details, please directly contact airlines.”

The airport also said railways were not operating and highways were shut.

Tokyo International Airport (Haneda, HND) did not appear to have posted a notice on its English-language website. But Singapore Airlines’ website said Haneda was open for “limited arrival flights.”

Elsewhere in Japan, the Sendai airport, which was inundated with tsunami-driven floodwaters, was shut, according to news reports.

Here’s a look at actions taken by some major airlines affected by the earthquake, as reported on their websites early Friday. The situation was changing rapidly, so check for updates:

All Nippon Airways (ANA) posted a notice that many flights to and from Tokyo’s Narita and Haneda airports “may be delayed, canceled, diverted, or return due to earthquake in Japan.” Check online for flight updates because the airline said its reservation lines were busy.

American Airlines, in a travel alert, said it would waive reissue charges for tickets that were issued on or before March 11 for travel March 11-18 to, from or through Tokyo’s Narita or Haneda airports.

Cathay Pacific, in its notice, said it was diverting several flights to either Nagoya, Osaka or Haneda airports and that “it is likely that flights to Japan may continue to be affected in the coming days.”

It said its Tokyo reservation office was shut and that “due to the uncertainty of flight operations, customers with onward flights to Tokyo via Hong Kong may not be accepted for travel at their departure port. We will assist with alternative flight arrangements once flights resume.”

Cathay was waiving rebooking and rerouting charges for tickets issued on or before March 11 for travel involving Narita, Haneda and several other Japanese airports between March 11 and March 16.

Delta Air Lines, in an advisory, said it would waive change fees for travel from March 11-15 to, from or through Japan.

Singapore Airlines, in a news alert, said it would waive fees for rebooking, rerouting and refunds for customers holding confirmed tickets issued on or before March 11 for travel March 11-20 to and from Tokyo.