Strong winds caused approximately 100 flights to be cancelled at Jeju International Airport on Sunday [1].
The disruptions highlight the vulnerability of South Korea's primary island gateway to seasonal typhoons, which can paralyze regional transit and strand thousands of travelers.
The cancellations occurred as part of a larger schedule of approximately 450 flights, including international routes, slated for the day [1]. According to YTN, several international flights that had already departed were forced to divert back to mainland cities, including Incheon and Busan [1].
Weather officials issued a strong wind warning after wind speeds exceeded 20 meters per second [1]. The adverse conditions were caused by the influence of Typhoon Bob [1]. This warning had been in effect since the evening of July 11 [1].
Local authorities reported that the extreme weather caused physical damage across the region. The Jeju Fire Safety Headquarters said it received five reports of damage, which included broken traffic lights, and building exterior walls being torn away [2].
Airport officials and airlines continued to monitor wind speeds to determine when it would be safe to resume normal operations. The high wind speeds made landing conditions unsafe for aircraft, leading to the mass cancellations and diversions [1].
Travelers were advised to check the status of their flights through airline notifications and the airport's official channels as the typhoon's influence persisted [1].
“Approximately 100 flights were cancelled out of 450 scheduled for the day.”
The suspension of nearly 22% of scheduled flights at Jeju International Airport demonstrates the significant operational risk posed by Typhoon Bob. Because Jeju relies heavily on air travel for connectivity to the mainland, such weather events create immediate bottlenecks in national transport and economic activity on the island.
