Snow disrupts New Year vacationers' flights in northern Japan

Heavy snowfall disrupted operations of a key airport in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Saturday, causing airlines to cancel nearly 100 flights and postpone more than 100 at the end of the country's New Year holiday period.Many flights departing from New Chitose Airport near Sapporo were fully booked the same day as the rush of travelers heading home peaked, according to the airlines.It suddenly began to snow heavily in the evening and the snowfall reached 22 centimeters as of 8 p.m. at the airport, according to the Sapporo meteorological observatory and the airport operator.The airport closed…READ FULL ARTICLE