Japan’s Kansai Airport Opens $12 Billion Second Runway

Posted by Bill Belew on July 26th, 2010 in Japan | Comments Off

There are more ways to get in to Japan than via Narita, the international airport serving Tokyo. Tokyo also has Haneda.

Kansai Airport serves Osaka and is my airport of choice when heading home. I can fly into Kansai, transfer and then fly to Niigata. I can't do that from Tokyo's Narita airport. I have to transfer via Narita Express to the Shinkansen.

Imagine flying for 12-14 hours and then having to go 5 more on the train…no fun.

I can fly into Kansai, wait a couple of hours and then fly to Niigata. That IS the way to go. kansa.airport.jpg

But, Kansai is expensive, the seventh most expensive airport in the world according to a British research

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But, flying from Kansai to anywhere in Japan can still be cheaper and faster than taking the train.

Japan spent 1.56 trillion to create an artificial island and second runway at Kansai – 'for Japan's rapidly aging society and declining birthrate' said one airport official.

What an airport has to do with aging and declining birthrate is beyond me.

Additionally, there are legitimate questions about the need for another major hub in Asia, especially such an expensive one.

I, for one, thank Japan for spending $12 billion so I can get home to Niigata faster.

Have you ever been to Kansai airport? 

 


 

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