Japan Airlines deploys emergency flights following Kumamoto earthquake

Following the Kumamoto earthquake on July 28, Japan Airlines (JAL) has implemented emergency flight operations to mitigate the disruption of regional transportation. The earthquake significantly impacted ground infrastructure, causing the suspension of the Kyushu Shinkansen and damaging roads in the region.

JAL announced its first emergency flights between Fukuoka and Kagoshima within half a day of the earthquake. To support those unable to travel via rail or road, the airline has scheduled a total of 80 additional flights between Fukuoka and Kagoshima from August 9 to August 19, with up to four round trips per day. Other temporary routes include services between Haneda and Kumamoto, and Fukuoka and Miyazaki.

The rapid deployment of these services is supported by aviation regulations that allow airlines with existing domestic flight permits to quickly initiate emergency schedules. JAL's decision to expand these flights comes as JR Kyushu indicates that full recovery of the Kyushu Shinkansen line is unlikely within August.