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<ul class="summary-list"><li>Japan Airlines is offering free domestic flights to tourists from the US and other select countries.</li><li>Tourists must book round-trip international flights with Japan Airlines to qualify.</li></ul>Japan is a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/japan-weak-currency-yen-boosts-foreign-tourism-luxury-purchases-travel-2024-4">popular spot for tourists</a>, and a new initiative will make it easier – and more affordable – to visit than ever before.Japan Airlines is offering free domestic flights to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/things-american-wishes-she-knew-before-visiting-japan-mistakes-2024-9">tourists from the US</a>, Canada, Mexico, Thailand, Australia, and New Zealand, according to a recent <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://press.jal.co.jp/en/release/202409/008322.html">announcement</a> on its website.It will also be available for tourists from Vietnam, the Philippines Indonesia, India, China, and Taiwan.In order to claim the free tickets, passengers must book round-trip international flights with the same airline and the domestic flights must be booked in the same reservation as the international flights.A stopover fee of $100 will be charged to travelers from the US, Canada, Mexico, and China who plan to stay in their first destination for more than 24 hours.A spokesperson for Japan Airlines told Business Insider that "no end date has been set" for the initiative.The new initiative means lesser-known cities and towns will become more accessible.Grace Cheng, a travel blogger based in New York, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tips-for-going-to-japan-avoid-mistakes-travel-advice-2024-7">previously told BI</a> that tourists visiting Japan often make the mistake of only going to the capital, Tokyo, which doesn't fully represent how broad and versatile the culture is.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tokyo-confidential-bar-bartender-owner-foreigner-challenges-working-living-japan-2024-8">Tokyo</a> has become increasingly popular in recent years. In 2023, the number of international visitors to the city <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/914251/inbound-tourist-numbers-tokyo-japan/">reached a record high of 19.54 million</a>, according to data tracking website Statista.That same year, the value of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/654349/japan-expenditure-by-foreign-tourists/">tourism expenditure</a> by international visitors was around 5.31 trillion Japanese yen, or around $37 billion, the website said."Tokyo is not Japan," Cheng said. "And you need to explore the other cities to actually have a sense of what Japan is like."Cheng recommends visiting Sapporo in the Hokkaido prefecture in the north of Japan. She said it is often more affordable than the capital and has friendly locals.Meanwhile, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.harpersbazaar.com.sg/lifestyle/12-must-visit-places-in-japan-outside-of-tokyo">Harper's Bazaar Singapore</a> suggests visiting Kanazawa on the east coast of Japan's Honshu island for its Edo-era architecture, historic teahouses, and traditional Japanese artists, also known as geishas.The outlet also named several other popular locations, including Naoshima, an island town in the Seto Inland Sea.

Japan is encouraging Americans to visit with free domestic flights. Here's how to book.

<keyword id="19895061" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="goa" source="keywords">Goa</keyword> is a popular tourism destination in India and is known for its gorgeous beaches, nightlife, and food. The popular destination hosts millions of tourists every year and for some, it is just a couple hours of drive away. However, international travellers don't find it that easy to get to the destination, as per a new PTI report. The report says that even though Goa is increasingly a popular choice for international travellers, it requires government support to make it more accessible to foreigners. In a media statement, the department said that charter flights from key markets like Russian cities Moscow and Ekaterinburg, London, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan, support international arrivals. A Polish charter flight is also set to arrive in the coastal state on November 8. The statement added that this international interest extends beyond Goa’s iconic beaches, with tourists increasingly exploring areas like Dudhsagar Falls and scenic hinterlands. To further boost connectivity, Goa is collaborating with airlines and seeking government support to improve flight routes, creating a more globally connected tourism landscape. "However, establishing robust direct international connectivity requires further support from the Government of India, which we are actively seeking to make Goa an even more attractive, accessible, and globally connected destination," a spokesperson said. He added that after pandemic disruptions, Goa’s international tourism is rebounding, with over 450,000 foreign arrivals recorded in 2023. Alongside domestic visitors, totaling over 8 million this year, the state’s tourism sector is also thriving. Addressing challenges like limited direct flights, Goa’s tourism officials are working to secure new airline agreements, ensuring an easier journey for international visitors. He also talked about the challenges that the tourism destination is facing, including limited connectivity by air. "Goa does face some challenges. For example, limited scheduled international air connectivity. The state government is working closely with the Centre to relook at point of call and additional seat entitlement for Goa, to establish more robust international connections," he said. (with PTI inputs)

This Indian state is attracting international tourists via chartered flights, needs support to make itself more accessible

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Japan Airlines has offered free domestic flights to international tourists visiting Japan.</li><li>The initiative aims to promote travel to lesser-known destinations.</li></ul>Japan Airlines is giving <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/japan-airlines-free-domestic-flights-us-international-how-to-book-2024-9">free domestic flights</a> to international tourists, making travel to smaller cities and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tips-for-going-to-japan-avoid-mistakes-travel-advice-2024-7">hidden gems</a> far easier.But travel experts say the initiative is likely to backfire, as it could exacerbate the country's overtourism problem.The initiative was announced in September and is available to people traveling to Japan from the <a target="_blank" rel="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/things-american-wishes-she-knew-before-visiting-japan-mistakes-2024-9">US</a>, Canada, Mexico, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, India, China, and Taiwan.In order to obtain the free tickets, passengers must book round-trip international flights with Japan Airlines and domestic flights within the same purchase.A spokesperson for Japan Airlines said no end date has been set for the initiative.<h2 id="e067d43f-7a22-42e9-a0bf-597ba6c4f4a3">It could intensify over-tourism</h2>Sara Aiko, founder of the travel agency <a target="_blank" href="http://www.curatedkyoto.com/">Curated Kyoto, </a>told BI that the initiative was likely created to distribute tourism to lesser-known areas to alleviate overtourism in the capital.But in practice, Aiko said, "people will continue to flock to popular destinations like Tokyo, regardless of free tickets, because they are major attractions."<div type="image" title="A woman with a backpack walks through the streets of Tokyo." height="4749" width="6888" msid="114154442" hostid="261" sizebytes="1396134"></div>Earlier this year, the Japanese government estimated that it would surpass <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="c-link" href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/04/17/japan/society/record-high-inbound-travelers/">its target of getting 32 million international tourists by 2025</a> after 8.6 million people visited in the first quarter of 2024.Ben Julius is the founder of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.touristjapan.com/about/">Tourist Japan</a>, a travel agency that offers tour packages across Japan to travelers from around the globe.Speaking to BI, Julius said around 90% of his clients visit the same popular locations: Tokyo, Kyoto, Mount Fuji, and Osaka."The majority of visitors are first-time visitors," he said. "And when people visit Japan for the first time, they won't miss the must-see cities."However, overtourism in these areas is majorly disrupting the lives of locals, who have to deal with rising hotel prices and misbehaving tourists."Hotel prices have skyrocketed due to tourism, making it difficult for many locals to stay at places they used to enjoy," Aiko said.Meanwhile, in April, authorities in Yamanashi erected an eight-foot-tall barrier to prevent tourists from taking photos at a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/japan-town-building-barrier-stop-tourists-taking-mount-fuji-photos-2024-4">convenience store with views of Mount Fuji</a>.<div type="image" title="A view of Mount Fuji behind a convenience store." height="2828" width="4242" msid="114154441" hostid="261" sizebytes="260872"></div>The move came after complaints about the behavior of international tourists, including littering and bad parking.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg2j7dery1o">BBC News</a> reported in August that the barrier had been removed in preparation for a typhoon, but authorities said it would be re-erected if tourists returned in large numbers.Duncan Greenfield-Turk, CEO of the travel agency <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://globaltravelmoments.com/">Global Travel Moments</a>, told BI that Japan has been a top-booked destination for his clients for the past three years.He said he has noticed the "immersive pressure" on the country's public transport system, hotels, and attractions, "particularly in smaller towns not equipped for mass tourism."International visitor spending is expected to reach 6.3 trillion Japanese yen, or around $42 billion, by the end of 2024, according to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://wttc.org/news-article/japans-travel-and-tourism-sector-to-surpass-previous-records-in-2024">research</a> by the World Travel and Tourism Council.Employment within the travel and tourism industry is also expected to climb. The organization estimates more than 6 million new jobs will be created this year, which they said is a 10% increase from 2023.One reason tourists are spending more money is the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/japan-weak-currency-yen-boosts-foreign-tourism-luxury-purchases-travel-2024-4">weak yen</a>. Since the start of 2022, the yen has <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.reuters.com/graphics/JAPAN-YEN/EXPLAINER/xmvjnxjmbvr/">lost more than 20% against the dollar,</a> and it reached a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/currencies/dollar-defensive-amid-lower-yields-yen-hovers-near-38-year-trough-2024-07-03/">38-year low</a> of 161.96 to the dollar in July.Greenfield-Turk said Japan Airlines' initiative has the potential to stretch the economic benefits of mass tourism to less-visited areas.However, without proper direction, he said it "could simply encourage more travel to already strained regions, intensifying the overtourism problem.""If tourists continue to gravitate toward popular destinations rather than exploring new ones, the initiative could backfire," he said.There's also the possibility that tourists will opt out of the new initiative.Amy Thomasson, a Japan travel advisor for <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.travelmation.net/">Travelmation</a>, told BI that it "doesn't make sense for most travelers" because of the additional costs that could be accumulated.The airline said travelers from the US, Canada, Mexico, and China who plan to stay in their first destination for more than 24 hours will be charged a $100 layover fee.Instead, Thomasson suggests that tourists utilize Japan's high-speed trains.Business Insider's Monica Humphries previously wrote about her experience traveling between Tokyo and Kyoto on the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/riding-japans-bullet-trains-between-tokyo-kyoto-2023-7">Hikari Shinkansen</a>, a high-speed bullet train, and noted that it was clean, comfortable, and quick.

Japan is giving free flights to international tourists, but it may backfire

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Qantas flight QF520 had to make an emergency landing in Sydney after a suspected engine failure.</li><li>The plane was a Boeing 737-800, per the flight tracking websites Flightradar24 and FlightAware.</li></ul>A <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/qantas-mistakenly-sells-first-class-flights-at-massive-discount-2024-8">Qantas</a> flight headed to Brisbane had to make an emergency landing at Sydney Airport after a suspected engine failure.Qantas flight QF520 made a safe landing just after 1 p.m. local time, a spokesperson for Sydney Airport told Business Insider."This departure of aircraft coincided with a grass fire along the eastern side of the airport's parallel runway, which was brought under control by teams from the Aviation Rescue Fire Fighting Service," the spokesperson said in a statement."It's not clear at this stage if the two incidents are linked and investigations are continuing," the statement continued, adding that the airport's main runway remains operational.When approached for comment, a representative for Qantas pointed BI to a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/featured/qantas-statement-on-qf520/">statement</a> it published on their website."One of our flights to Brisbane experienced a suspected engine failure after take-off from Sydney Airport this afternoon," Qantas said in a statement published at 1:50 p.m. local time, adding that customers were being moved onto other flights.Less than 30 minutes after its first statement, the airline published an update, saying that a preliminary inspection by its engineers confirmed that the plane had experienced a "contained engine failure."The plane was a Boeing 737-800, per the flight tracking websites Flightradar24 and FlightAware.Qantas services its international and domestic flights with a fleet that includes Airbus and Boeing planes. As of June 30, the Qantas Group had 347 aircraft, 75 of which were Boeing 737-800 planes.Boeing has faced intense scrutiny, particularly after an incident in January when a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/passenger-alaska-airlines-flight-1282-portland-california-boeing-2024-1">door plug flew off</a> a Boeing 737 Max 9 on an Alaskan Airlines flight from Oregon to California.Last month, Boeing reported a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boeing-q3-results-earnings-loss-ceo-vows-iconic-again-2024-10">net loss of $6.1 billion</a> in the third quarter of 2024. The aerospace manufacturer posted a loss of more than $1.4 billion in the previous quarter. Boeing's shares are down nearly 42% year to date.Representatives for Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.

A Qantas flight made an emergency landing in Sydney due to a suspected engine failure on a Boeing 737

<ul class="summary-list"><li>I was a <a href="https://www.insider.com/flight-attendant-answers-common-questions-from-flights-2022-1">flight attendant for two years</a>, and I wish passengers would stop doing certain things. </li><li>It's pretty gross to go to the bathroom without shoes on or leave the toilet unflushed. </li></ul>I worked as a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/flight-attendant-surprising-things-about-job-2021-11">flight attendant</a> on domestic and international routes for two years, and I saw all kinds of behavior on planes. Here are the top things you should never do on a flight.<h2>The life vests under the seats aren't yours to steal </h2>I never thought this would be a problem, but some people think a life vest would be a nice souvenir.Not only is it stealing, but you could also be putting the next passenger sitting in that seat in danger.<h2>Do not leave the toilet unflushed</h2><div type="image" title="occupied lavatory lit up on an airplane" height="3648" width="4864" msid="112746297" hostid="261" sizebytes="202150"></div>If you don't know exactly how to use the airplane bathroom, don't be shy or embarrassed to ask your flight attendants.You don't fly the plane every day, and there are so many buttons. But don't just leave and hope no one will notice.<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/things-flight-attendants-want-you-to-stop-doing-on-flight-2019-1">The airplane</a> is a very small space. We usually have one bathroom in the front and two in the back, so everyone can tell when you didn't flush.<h2>It might not be a good idea to take medication that makes you sleep through the flight</h2>When I started flying in 2019, I noticed a passenger looked unconscious to me. I tried to wake him up by shaking him, but he didn't respond, so I panicked and called my colleagues for help.I was about to ask for a medical professional onboard or perform first aid. But it turned out a passenger was a heavy sleeper, and it looked like he'd used some sleeping medication.You might not want to scare your crew by taking drowsy medication on a flight.<h2>Bringing too much luggage on the plane makes everyone's life harder</h2><div type="image" title="Travelers wait for their luggage at a baggage carousel, Friday, May 28, 2021, at Miami International Airport in Miami." height="2656" width="3541" msid="112746301" hostid="261" sizebytes="1159658"></div><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-make-flight-attendants-like-you-2020-1">Some passengers</a> are completely covered with sweat from carrying too many personal items, backpacks, and carry-ons. It's so much easier to check your luggage and walk on the plane relaxed and stress-free.Finding a space for everyone's bag is also not always possible, so your extra items may need to be checked regardless. If you're worried about paying extra, ask an attendant at the gate. They're usually happy to check it for free if the flight is full.<h2>Never drink any personal alcohol on board</h2>We catch people drinking mini bottles of alcohol all the time.Even if you think there isn't a flight attendant around, you'd be surprised how often other passengers let us know.It's prohibited, and if you're caught, you could be banned from future flights with the airline, so it's not worth the risk. <h2>Crew members can't help you place your carry-on into the overhead bins</h2><div type="image" title="Overhead bins" height="724" width="965" msid="112746304" hostid="261" sizebytes="30184"></div>Sometimes, passengers ask flight attendants for help hoisting their <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-flight-attendants-bring-in-their-carry-ons-2018-7">carry-ons</a> into the overhead bins. But that isn't part of a cabin crew's responsibility.If the bag is too heavy, it's better to check it. <h2>Don't go to the restroom when the flight attendants are performing a safety demonstration</h2>It's OK to go to the restroom before takeoff. But when you see flight attendants performing a safety demonstration, you should stay seated and wait until the seatbelt sign is off.When passengers get up during the safety demonstration, we need to stop, wait, and start from the beginning when everyone is back to their seats. If it's an emergency, call a flight attendant over and we'll help you. <h2>Using the seat-back trays without wiping them down isn't a good idea</h2><div type="image" title="feet on airplane seat" height="4476" width="5968" msid="112746298" hostid="261" sizebytes="1132146"></div>You may think that people only place drinks on seat-back trays, but the person before you could've slept on it or used it to change a baby's diaper.My airline hands out little alcohol wipes during boarding for a reason. Just give the tray a quick wipe when you sit down. <h2>Never go to the restroom without shoes</h2>The bathroom is probably the dirtiest place <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/facts-about-flying-flight-attendants-2018-1">on the plane</a>. And all the liquid you see on the floor isn't just water. Plus, if you're just wearing socks, they'll be soaked. Who wants that for a whole flight?<h2>Don't stay silent if you aren't feeling well</h2><div type="image" title="Airplane cabin with a passenger adjusting the cabin air setting above him" height="1080" width="1440" msid="112746299" hostid="261" sizebytes="68910"></div>I've had <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-to-stop-doing-when-you-fly-according-to-flight-attendant-2021">passengers</a> feeling lightheaded or having a panic attack, but they were too shy to tell anyone. You don't have to quietly deal with pain or discomfort on your own until landing. Always tell your flight attendant. We might have the training or equipment that can help. This story was originally published in February 2022 and most recently updated on August 23, 2024.

10 things you should never do on a flight, according to a former flight attendant

India's domestic air passenger traffic rose 9% to more than 1.27 crore in November, according to official data released on Friday. Last month also saw daily air traffic touching new highs multiple times. <keyword id="6354706" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="indigo" source="Orion">IndiGo</keyword> remained the country's largest domestic carrier but its market share declined to 61.8% in November from 62.6% in October. However, none of the scheduled carriers had an On-Time Performance (OTP) score of more than 80% in November. Official data released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday showed that airlines flew 1.27 crore passengers in November compared to 1.17 crore in the year-ago period. This marks a growth of 9.06% on an annual basis. "Passengers carried by domestic airlines during January-November 2023 were 1,382.34 lakhs as against 1,105.10 lakhs during the corresponding period of previous year thereby registering annual growth of 25.09% and monthly growth of 9.06%," DGCA said. The domestic market share of <keyword id="6358032" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="spicejet" source="Orion">SpiceJet</keyword> rose to 6.2% in November from 5% in October. Its OTP stood at 41.8% last month. <keyword id="2573" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="air-india" source="Orion">Air India</keyword>'s domestic market share remained unchanged at 10.5% in November while that of Vistara fell marginally to 9.4% last month. In November, the share of Akasa Air and AIX Connect remained unchanged at 4.2% and 6.6%, respectively. As per the data, Akasa Air topped the OTP chart at 78.2%, followed by IndiGo at 77.5% and Vistara at 72.8%. Air India's OTP was at 62.5% while that of AIX Connect and Alliance Air were at 69.7% and 66.1%, respectively. On-Time Performance (OTP) of scheduled domestic airlines is computed for four metro airports -- Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Mumbai.

India's domestic air passenger traffic rises 9% in November

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Anu Verma went on a 16-month solo trip before traveling to 36 countries within four months.</li><li>Verma said the experience helped her heal from past trauma, but it also caused burnout.</li></ul>This is an as-told-to essay based on a conversation with Anu Verma, a <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://victim2victor.net/">trauma recovery coach</a>, podcast host, and author of the book <a target="_blank" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?h=7f63ce3f5718d480afe452771d84d35d07fb14cf82dc7fc95dfe5f68e968a7c1&amp;postID=66f94caed86164749855c3ee&amp;postSlug=tourist-solo-travel-36-flights-mistakes-caused-burnout-2024-9&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FVictim-Victor-inspirational-struggle-overcoming%2Fdp%2F1649530951%2Fref%3Dcm_cr_arp_mb_bdcrb_top%3Fie%3DUTF8">"Victim 2 Victor."</a>It has been edited for length and clarity.I always looked at travel as a way to heal.I had been a victim of childhood abuse and sexual abuse while growing up in Coventry, England. Later in life, I experienced domestic abuse. So, it felt like there was always something I was trying to overcome.When I went to university, I met one of my best friends, who inspired me to travel. She was eight years older than me and had already gone on a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/europe-solo-travel-woman-burnout-phd-academic-2024-3">solo trip</a> and had some crazy stories about her time <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mistakes-people-make-visiting-australia-first-time-from-local-2024-7">visiting Australia</a>.I was mesmerized. After completing my final exams, I booked a six-month solo trip to Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, and India, which I ended up extending to 16 months because I loved it so much.<div type="image" title="A woman sits in front of the Taj Mahal." height="1500" width="2000" msid="113856266" hostid="261" sizebytes="225984"></div>I found this joy that I'd never really had before. I was on a high in life, and it was blissful.I can remember crying when I had to come home. I'd already postponed starting my master's degree for a year, so it was time to complete it.After getting my master's in sports science, I booked more solo trips to India, Nepal, Burma, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand.I took 36 flights in four months. Here are some of the biggest travel mistakes I made.<h2 id="a0b533e3-212f-4afc-87f6-9a609725c9f9">Spending short bursts in multiple countries led to burnout</h2>I was literally spending two days in each of the countries I visited, booking plane after plane ticket to make sure I experienced everything.I thought it was going to be my last long trip before I <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/travel-blogger-helene-sula-not-having-kids-europe-2024-8">settled down and had kids</a>, and I wanted to make the most of it.<div type="image" title="Anu Verma, a travel blogger, looks up at the camera. She is surrounded by rocks and greenery." height="3000" width="3000" msid="113856268" hostid="261" sizebytes="733662"></div>But I remember telling everyone when I got home that I was so burned out. I just wanted to be stable and grounded and never get on a flight again.I would not do that now. I would go somewhere and stay there and then really embrace it.<h2 id="78d88ea6-ded0-46f9-ae58-de75312aeaab">I failed to plan ahead</h2>I was never forward planning.I remember going to India and not even knowing where I was going to go next. So it was all very last minute, which is not the kind of way that a lot of people would travel anyway.During another part of the trip, I was visiting Lombok in Indonesia and trying to get to Komodo. I just showed up at the airport and asked when the next plane was, but it wasn't until 4 a.m. the next morning.I had my sleeping bag, so I just camped out in the airport and slept on the floor, waiting for the flight.It was a very hippie-ish and free-spirited way of traveling.But if I were to do it again, I would have to plan ahead because I am in a more stable mindset.<h2 id="3cfbc837-baa8-475f-9131-72be47fc29bd">Do your research when it comes to airlines</h2>It was very difficult to understand which airlines to take in Asia. Since I was doing a long-term trip, I'd always try to find the cheapest flights.But the cheapest wasn't always the best because there were sometimes stop-offs. So, I'd always search for direct flights and those that departed at a decent time. I'd always look at reviews..I've always been one to try out local flights, trains, coaches, and everything else because it gives you a good feel for the culture. But you should definitely do your due diligence.

I took 36 flights in 4 months, and it was exhausting. These were my 2 biggest mistakes.

<keyword id="19987282" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="flight-delays" source="keywords">Flight delays</keyword> due to bad weather, security scares or medical emergencies are the usual culprits we have all grown accustomed to. But leave it to <keyword id="19910206" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="North-Korea" source="keywords">North Korea</keyword> to find innovative ways to pop the flyers’ balloons. Early Wednesday morning, <keyword id="19916007" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="South-Korea" source="keywords">South Korea</keyword>’s <keyword id="22160358" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Incheon-International-Airport" source="keywords">Incheon International Airport</keyword> faced an unusual disruption, as operations were halted for about three hours due to balloons launched from North Korea. According to an airport spokesperson, these balloons, filled with trash, interfered with flight schedules before dawn, Reuters reported. One of the balloons landed on the tarmac close to Terminal 2, prompting the temporary closure of three runways. The presence of several other balloons within the airport’s perimeter exacerbated the situation, leading to a shutdown that affected domestic and international flights. The disruption spanned from 1:46 a.m. to 4:44 a.m., causing significant delays for several flights. During this period, incoming and outgoing aeroplanes were held back, and normal operations resumed only after the runways were declared safe, as reported by the Incheon International Airport Corporation. Fortunately, flight activity during these early hours is typically low. Data from FlightRadar24 indicated that eight incoming cargo and passenger flights were diverted to Cheongju or Jeju airports within South Korea. Additionally, a China Cargo freighter from Shanghai was redirected to Yantai, China. This incident isn’t unprecedented for the airport, situated approximately 40 kilometres from the North Korean border. Similar disruptions have occurred previously due to balloon intrusions, the spokesperson noted. Since late May, North Korea has been sending balloons carrying refuse into South Korea. These acts are allegedly in retaliation for <keyword id="22183605" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="propaganda-activities" source="keywords">propaganda activities</keyword> by defectors and activists in the South, who dispatch balloons carrying food, medicine, money and leaflets critical of North Korea’s leadership. Items found in the <keyword id="22183606" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="North-Korean-balloons" source="Orion">North Korean balloons</keyword> have included whimsical objects like Hello Kitty-themed articles, heavily worn clothes, and soil tainted with human faeces and parasites, according to South Korean authorities.

You Searched For "domestic flights" and got 8 results

Japan is encouraging Americans to visit with free domestic flights. Here's how to book.

Mikhaila Friel

This Indian state is attracting international tourists via chartered flights, needs support to make itself more accessible

BI India Bureau

Japan is giving free flights to international tourists, but it may backfire

Mikhaila Friel

A Qantas flight made an emergency landing in Sydney due to a suspected engine failure on a Boeing 737

Kwan Wei Kevin Tan

10 things you should never do on a flight, according to a former flight attendant

Arina Bloom

India's domestic air passenger traffic rises 9% in November

PTI

I took 36 flights in 4 months, and it was exhausting. These were my 2 biggest mistakes.

Mikhaila Friel

North Korea’s trash-filled balloons cause South Korea’s Incheon international airport runways to briefly shut down

BI India Bureau

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