Japan eases blanket ban on new incoming flight bookings

Staff members stand at the departure gate of Tokyo's Haneda international airport. - AFP

TOKYO (AFP): Japan has softened its suspension of all new incoming flight bookings to make it easier for citizens to return, the government said Thursday (Dec 2), a day after it announced the move prompted by worries about the Omicron coronavirus variant.

The transport ministry abruptly said Wednesday it was asking airlines to stop taking all new incoming flight reservations for a month, in a surprise move affecting citizens and foreign residents.