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MLIT to Approve Late Evening and Early Morning Flights at Haneda for
Europe and America Routes with Integrated Operations of Haneda and
Narita End-May 2008
Minister Fuyushiba of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport
and Tourism revealed its policy to double the number of international
aircraft movements at Tokyo's Haneda Airport to approximately 60,000
yearly including flight operations during the late evening and early
morning departure/ arrival slots.
MLIT, Fuyushiba, said, is to better address the growing
international traffic demand, by merging operations of Haneda and
Narita, thereby enhancing their airport functions and efficiency. His
view reflects a future concept for the metropolitan airport
operations in connection with the 30th anniversary of the opening of
Tokyo Narita International Airport.
While basically cargo flights are slated for the late evening and
early morning slots, MLIT minister referred also to international
passenger flights including European long-haul flights with a late
evening departure, eyeing long-haul routes beyond the perimeter of
the longest domestic route from Haneda currently defined by MLIT.
The minister said, "We expect all kinds of efforts to be made by
all concerned," considering a strong demand by airlines to operate
into Narita in spite of available departure and arrival slots both at
Kansai and Chubu International Airports.
Haneda Airport will have a primary role in the integrated
operations of the two metropolitan airports, providing the late
evening and early morning slots for approximately 30,000 yearly
aircraft movements.
Narita Airport is closed for take-off and landing from 23.00 to
06.00 the following morning due to concerns about aircraft noise,
during which Haneda Airport remains operational for scheduled
international flights, thereby the two metropolitan airports will be
jointly able to function as a 24-hour operational airport.
By allowing international flights to operate from 23.00 to 06.00,
Haneda Airport will be able to realize scheduled international
passenger flights to major cities in the world including Europe and
America.
The runway extension at Narita, when completed, will enable the
airport to further expand its international network by allocating
some additional 20,000 aircraft slots yearly to accommodate
international flights.
Haneda will, on the other-hand, allocate slots out of about
30,000 yearly daytime aircraft slots to Beijing, Taipei and Hong Kong
routes in addition to the already existing scheduled charter flight
destinations, Seoul and Shanghai. The airport will prepare itself to
attract flights to Europe and America with late-evening departures in
an effort to launch a round-the-clock operation.
In spite of the increasing number of aircraft take-off and
landing slots, MLIT estimates the airport capacity of the
metropolitan airports to become nearly full again in 10 years or so.
MLIT will consider, by all possible means, to expand the airport
operational capacity, enhancing the functions and efficiency that
include air traffic control, equipment, environment and facilities at
both airports.
To carry out further and specific developments, MLIT will give
full consideration to the feedback coming from all concerned
including local governments and airlines.
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