Japan Retracts Ban On New Flight Bookings Into The Country

The transport ministry has retracted the request after receiving criticism that the travel ban was too strict.

Japan says it has retracted a ban on new incoming international flight bookings to defend against the new variant of the coronavirus only a day after the policy was announced, following criticism that it was an overreaction.

The transport ministry on Wednesday issued a request to international airlines to stop taking new reservations for flights coming into Japan until the end of December as an emergency precaution to defend against the new Omicron variant.

The ministry said Thursday it has retracted the request after receiving criticism that the ban was too strict and tantamount to abandoning its own people.