Second Runway for Japan’s Kansai International Airport
Kansai International Airport in Japan has today officially opened its second runway - a move effectively now launching it above other national airports in granting it imminent and complete 24 hour availability. The expansion coincides with Japan’s attempt to keep up with the flourishing aviation/airport industry in other parts of Asia.
The second runway itself is over 4,000 metres long, giving Kansai Airport an ability to accommodate increased numbers of flights – both international and domestic. Additionally, the congestion that the single runway had caused during the airport’s prime times will now be lessened.
Today’s ceremony to mark the opening of this significant new development saw approximately 400 officials at Kansai lined up along the runway. Their hands raised aloft, they enthusiastically welcomed in the first aircraft to use the facility; symbolically - an inbound international flight from Bangkok, Thailand.
Kansai International Airport is situated in Osaka Bay, and constructed upon an artificial island there. Full round-the-clock operations will commence in two months time, when its new air traffic control system – necessary to cope with the potential influx of flights set to now take place – is itself ready to go into service.
The airport has now been open for 13 years. In that time, it has fought a perpetual battle to generate profit, but, to date, has found just breaking even to be troublesome. Its current level of debt stands at 1.18 trillion yen (approximately $9.8 billion).
Highlighting the virtues of the new runway, authorities at Kansai have drawn attention to the obvious economic benefits that increased numbers of flights, including cargo operations, will now bring to the suffering hub. “We are especially looking at surging demand from China", confirmed a spokeswoman.
At present, Narita International is Japan’s most prominent airport in terms of foreign travel. Expansion is also in the pipeline there, but issues of noise, highlighted by the local community, will likely prevent it from becoming 24 hour as with Kansai.
Japan’s airport sector has been fairly productive as of late; new airports having recently been built in Fukuoka, Kobe and Nagoya. Two months ago, the Japanese government stressed the need for Tokyo Haneda Airport – the busiest across the Asian continent – to become more internationally-focused.
Osaka itself will host the World Athletics Championships in coming weeks
Source – Airport International’s Far East Correspondent
