When I was in New York, I received an update from my friend Anne Chan of Delta Airways on travel to Japan. It was a March 18 advisory with the following items:
1) Delta has regular contact with Japanese government and other agencies for the latest information on the dangers of radiation. 2) The airline has retained the services of nuclear and medical experts for advice on the unfolding situation. 3) A team of more than 30 meteorologists in the Delta Operations Control Center is monitoring wind patterns in Japan, as well as weather patterns for the safety of Delta flights all over the world. 4) Crewmembers adhere to safe flight patterns and monitor the no-fly areas indicated by the Japanese government.
Anne however clarified that the Manila-Narita-US flights have been back to their normal schedule since March 13. For travel to Tokyo, one can check FLIGHT STATUS & UPDATES at delta.com before making travel plans. Register at DELTA MESSENGER FLIGHT NOTIFICATIONS for an updated flight information. Travel agents should visit their website: worldagentdirect.com, for updates and travel exception policies of the airline.
The April 04 advisory has the announcement from IATA (International Air Transport Assoc.) of the confirmation from six United Nations agencies monitoring Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant that there is no health and transportation safety hazard in the country. The UN also confirmed that screening for radiation of passengers arriving from Japan is deemed not necessary at airports and seaports around the world. This is based on a joint statement prepared by the World Health Organization (WHO), International Atomic Energy Agency, World Meteorological Organization, International Maritime Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization and the World Tourism Organization.
The UN announcement states that the continuous monitoring on Japan’s airports confirms that radiation levels are well within safe limits. For travelers to Japan, please updates from a dedicated website put up by the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau: www.mlit.go.jp/koku/flyjapan_en/
Giovanni Batista, IATA’s Director general & CEO, reiterates “that safety is always our top priority. The transparent and continuous monitoring of the situation has allowed Japanese and international authorities to confirm that Japan’s airports remain open and safe for travelers and transport workers….We are reassured that the UN is not recommending screening measures for passengers coming from Japan.”
If we must make a trip to Japan these days, let us make sure that flights are following the usual schedules, that wind/weather patterns are favorable, that the Japanese end is ready for our arrival and that proper personal precautions are undertaken nonetheless. The better part of valor, after all, is preparedness.
Japan has withstood all manner of stupendous natural disasters. Yet, the human-harnessed nuclear power now poses the greatest danger. We commend the innate calm and discipline of the Japanese people in the midst of chaos and despair. Their stoic dignity is a lesson in human transcendence over nature’s wrath.