Kansai Airport announced on January 9 that the number of passengers on China routes in January was reported to be 277,000, marking a 58% decrease compared to the same month last year. This decline represents an increase in the reduction rate from the previous month (December 2025), where the decrease was recorded at 39%. The ongoing travel restrictions encouraged by the Chinese government, urging citizens to avoid travel to Japan, are seen as a significant factor contributing to this downturn.

In addition to the drop in passengers traveling to and from China, the airline also reported cancellations on routes to Hong Kong and Macau, resulting in a 12% decrease in passenger numbers for the same month from those destinations, bringing the total to 214,000. Contrarily, routes to South Korea, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia saw an increase in passenger numbers, ranging from 5% to 21%, but the decline in traffic from China had a more significant impact overall. Consequently, total passenger numbers for all international flights also fell by 10%, totaling 2.072 million.

This marks the second consecutive month where year-on-year numbers have declined, with the overall decrease amounting to a widening gap compared to the 1% decline observed in the previous month. The implications of these figures suggest ongoing challenges within the aviation industry, particularly related to travel restrictions imposed due to geopolitical issues, which could continue to shape travel patterns in the near future.