The nuclear crisis in Japan is expected to extend throughout this year, with British Airways confirming it has suspended flights to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport until further notice.
BA only began flying to Haneda in late February. However, the carrier will continue flying to Tokyo’s Narita Airport, to which it resumed direct services on April 2.
Radiation levels in the sea off the crippled Fukishima Daiichi nuclear plant north of Tokyo were reported to be 6,500 times the legal limit on Friday.
The Japan National Tourism Organisation in London reported visitors to Tokyo have fallen 75%, but said many of the country’s popular destinations were outside the area affected by the earthquake and tsunami on March 11.
The UK Foreign Office (FCO) advises against all but essential travel to areas north east of Tokyo, amid continuing disruption and aftershocks. The FCO advises people to stay outside an 80-kilometre radius of the failed nuclear plant – four times the extent of the official evacuation zone. Both Tokyo and Narita lie beyond this limit.
At the same time United Continental, parent company of merged US carriers United and Continental Airlines, announced its passengers and staff have collected more than $2.5 million (£1.56 million) for aid to Japan in the past four weeks. The carriers are offering bonus miles to passengers who donate $50 or more.
The Japanese authorities have confirmed 14,000 dead from the disaster on March 11 and 14,000 people remain missing.
A BA spokeswoman said the airline’s five-times a week service to Haneda had been suspended “due to reduced demand”. But she added: “We remain committed to the route.”
BA resumed flights to Japan soon after the disaster on March 11, but operated the services first via Hong Kong and then via Seoul to allow a crew change so UK-based crew could stay overnight outside the country.
Haneda is close to Tokyo’s business district and offers connections with domestic flights around Japan, whereas Narita is two hours from the city centre.