NHK has learned that fuel supply difficulties are impacting winter-season flights to New Chitose Airport in Japan's northern prefecture of Hokkaido.

Sources say Australia's Qantas Airways has told the airport operator that it is canceling some weekly round-trip flights between New Chitose and Sydney for the upcoming winter. Qantas reportedly blamed fuel supply problems and a lack of ground staff.

Singapore Airlines has also said it may be difficult to go ahead with its five weekly round-trip flights to Hokkaido this winter for the same reasons.

A survey in Hokkaido at the end of May showed that 56 regular round-trip flights servicing New Chitose Airport have been canceled or postponed.

The northern-most prefecture is especially popular with foreign visitors during the winter, so there are concerns about the impact on the tourist industry.