Typhoon Champi shuts Taiwan and hits Okinawa — nearly 1,000 flights cancelled
977 flights cancelled in Taiwan on Friday 23 October. EVA Air cancelled all long-haul flights to the US and Europe. Okinawa’s island airports are also closed to many flights. Check your flight before you go to the airport.
Where the storm is going
Champi was a super typhoon and the strongest storm of 2026 so far. It is weakening, but it still brings strong wind and heavy rain.
Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration expects it to pass off Taiwan’s northeast coast on Friday and Saturday, then turn north toward Kyushu, in southern Japan. Warnings in Taiwan should be lifted on Saturday afternoon.
Japan’s far southwest islands — Yonaguni, Ishigaki and Miyako — are closest to the track. Forecasts warned of waves up to 12 m and gusts near 200 km/h.
How it developed
- Wed 21 Oct — Champi is about 900 km east-southeast of Taiwan, moving northwest. Airlines start cancelling Okinawa flights.
- Thu 22 Oct — JAL cancels many flights at nine Okinawa and Amami island airports, including Naha. China Airlines and Tigerair Taiwan cancel Okinawa flights. ANA adds extra flights out of Ishigaki.
- Fri 23 Oct — Taiwan shuts schools and offices. 977 flights cancelled: 262 domestic and 715 international. Taoyuan alone cancels 596 flights before 9 a.m. ANA cancels all Miyako and Ishigaki flights. Power cuts hit about 8,400 homes in Okinawa.
- Sat 24 Oct (forecast) — Closures continue in 13 Taiwan cities and counties. EVA Air and China Airlines warn of more cancellations until noon. The storm moves toward Kyushu.
Flights affected
| Airline | What changed |
|---|---|
| EVA Air | All long-haul flights to the US and Europe cancelled on Friday, plus many Taoyuan and Songshan flights. |
| China Airlines | Okinawa flights cancelled; delays and cancellations possible until Saturday noon. |
| Starlux | Naha, Shimojishima and Jakarta flights and all Taichung flights cancelled. Two extra Tokyo–Taiwan flights added. |
| Tigerair Taiwan | Eight Japan routes and four Jeju routes cancelled. |
| JAL · ANA · Skymark | More than 100 flights cancelled from Thursday to Sunday, mostly in Okinawa. About 11,000 passengers affected. |
| Singapore Airlines · Scoot | Some flights to Taipei, Tokyo and Seoul Incheon cancelled. |
Flying from Los Angeles
EVA Air’s cancellations include its US long-haul flights on Friday, so LAX–Taipei passengers are affected. Some flights to Tokyo and Seoul are also cancelled or late. See the live LAX, Taipei and Tokyo Narita boards.
What to do
- Check your airline’s app before you leave for the airport.
- ANA lets you change or refund flights to the affected airports for free, even if the flight still runs. Ask your airline about the same.
- Expect busy flights on Sunday and Monday as airlines move stranded passengers.
- Ferries to Taiwan’s outer islands are also stopped.
References
- Focus Taiwan — Typhoon Champi cancels 977 flights, suspends 96 ferry services
- Focus Taiwan — Typhoon Champi disrupts flights, ferry services across Taiwan
- Taipei Times — Typhoon Champi cancels 977 flights
- Rappler (Reuters) — Taiwan shuts down ahead of typhoon, hundreds of flights canceled
- AeroCorner — Typhoon Champi cancels Okinawa, Taiwan flights
- Central Weather Administration, Taiwan — typhoon warnings
- Japan Meteorological Agency — typhoon track