Super Typhoon Champi Passes Within Ten Miles of Guam, Then Heads Toward Okinawa as Flights Are Cancelled
Why It MattersTyphoon-driven cancellations on Taiwan–Okinawa corridors show how a single storm track can disrupt regional air traffic across several East Asian markets within days.
Super Typhoon Champi passed about ten miles south of Guam at its nearest point over the weekend, sparing the island a direct hit from its eye but still battering it; the storm underwent an eyewall replacement during the pass. World Kitchen distributed warm meals to those affected on Guam.
Champi began as a tropical depression near Micronesia on 11 October and was classified 29W three days later. It has since reached Category 5 hurricane-equivalent status with sustained winds of 185 mph, tying Super Typhoon Sinlaku as the strongest storm on Earth in 2026. It is currently about 500 miles south of Okinawa and is expected to reach the Sakishima Islands on Friday. Japanese meteorologists say it could turn north on Thursday 22 and begin to weaken as it approaches East Asia, possibly brushing China's eastern seaboard before heading toward Korea and Japan's main islands.
China Airlines and Tigerair Taiwan have cancelled or rescheduled flights between Taiwan and Okinawa starting Thursday. China Airlines rescheduled CI310/CI311 (Taichung–Okinawa) to depart early and cancelled CI122/CI123 (Taoyuan–Okinawa), CI312/CI313 (Taichung–Okinawa) and CI132/CI133 (Kaohsiung–Okinawa). Tigerair Taiwan cancelled IT232/IT233 (Taoyuan–Okinawa), IT289/IT728 (Kaohsiung–Okinawa), IT793 (Okinawa to Taichung) and IT796 (Tainan to Okinawa). Nippon Airways has warned of possible delays, cancellations and diversions at domestic airports.
Commanders of the joint U.S.–Japanese Keen Sword exercise have scaled back the drills because of the storm. Spokesman Maj. Ephesian Poisette said safety remains the absolute priority.
