A: Hey, what's the latest? Did you hear about Hong Kong Airlines?
B: Nah, what's up with them?

A: Well, they're cancelling all their flights to southern Japan in July and August!
B: Whoa, really? Why though?

A: Seems there's this unfounded rumor about a big earthquake and tsunami happening in Japan this summer.
B: That sounds scary! No wonder people aren't traveling to Japan from Hong Kong.

A: Yup, the airline resumed flights to Kagoshima last spring but had to cut them because of the rumor. They even increased the number of trips last December due to demand, but...
B: But now it's affecting them?

A: Exactly! Seat occupancy on these flights dropped since the rumor started spreading this spring.
B: That's a bummer for both parties. The Kagoshima office is asking the airline to resume flights as soon as possible.

A: Yeah, and the Japan National Tourism Organization says there's no scientific basis for that quake rumor. They want people to plan trips based on reliable information instead.
B: Makes sense. So I guess it's all just a rumor then?

A: That's what they say! Let's hope it stays that way and we can travel again soon. 😊
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Hong Kong Airlines has decided to cancel its flights to southern Japan in July and August amid an unfounded rumor that a major earthquake and tsunami will hit the country this summer.



In Hong Kong, the rumor has caused a decrease in travel demand to Japan and led to reduced flights since May between Hong Kong and various destinations in Japan.



Hong Kong Airlines decided to cancel all its flights to the southern Japanese prefectures of Kagoshima and Kumamoto in July and August.



The airline resumed the Kagoshima route in the spring of last year for the first time in four years. In December, it increased the number of weekly round trips from three to four due to strong demand for travel to Japan.



Sources say seat occupancy on the flights declined from this spring, when the quake rumor began to spread.



The Kagoshima Prefectural Office in Hong Kong said it will call on the airline and others to resume the flights as soon as possible.



The Japan National Tourism Organization said the rumor has no scientific basis and urged people to make travel plans based on scientific information provided by official organizations.