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Chubu Airport to get 2nd Runway as Nation’s Tourism Rises

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The transport ministry and the Aichi prefectural government are among those currently arranging to build a second runway at Chubu Airport so the facility can help meet the future growth in demand stemming from increases in the number of foreign visitors to Japan, according to sources.

With the completion of the second runway, arrivals and departures at the airport in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, would increase to about 200,000 in a year, or 1.6 times the current figure.

The aim is to start using the two runways together by 2027 when the Linear Chuo Shinkansen line is expected to begin operations, connecting Nagoya with Shinagawa in Tokyo in 40 minutes.
The airport was built on an offshore artificial island reclaimed from the sea and started operations to coincide with the opening of the 2005 World Exposition Aichi.

Land for the new runway will be secured by reclaiming the west side of the airport with sand dredged at Nagoya Port.

The Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry plans to release a preparatory document for environmental assessment as early as this autumn, on the assumption of building the new runway. Construction work will start as early as fiscal 2019 with an estimated total cost of about ¥300 billion.

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The airport has routes connecting 57 cities in Japan and abroad. Among the international routes, the network has been expanded widely to connect with China, Taiwan and Southeast Asian countries.

For China alone, the airport connects to 23 cities, including Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xian, Tianjin and Harbin.

Taking advantage of rapid increases in Chinese visitors to Japan, the number of incoming and outgoing passengers at the airport will likely exceed 11 million in fiscal 2016.

The number of arrivals and departures will match those at Kansai and Narita airports after the new runway is completed.

The government has set a goal of 40 million foreign visitors to Japan by 2020, or 1.6 times the level in 2016.

However, there are concerns that Haneda and Narita airports alone will not be able to meet future demand in the Tokyo metropolitan area. When the linear line opens, travel between Tokyo Station and Chubu Airport will be possible in about 1½ hours. Consequently, some expect that Chubu Airport could be used as the “third airport of the Tokyo metropolitan area.”


 

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