Cathay cuts Japan flights in first half of April

HONG KONG (AP) — Cathay Pacific Airways says it's cutting flights to Japan in the first half of April because of weakening demand for travel to the country, which has been hit by an earthquake, tsunami and nuclear reactor crisis.

Hong Kong's biggest airline says the cuts affect flights to Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya from April 1 to 15.

The airline will suspend five of its 14 daily flights to and from Tokyo and one of eight to and from Osaka. It will fly once a day to and from Nagoya after dropping three flights from the weekly schedule. Flights to Fukuoka and Sapporo are not affected.

Cathay said in a statement Tuesday that it expects "several months of weakness with a recovery towards the summer."