Narita takes on Haneda Airport needs expansion to increase domestic, low-cost service
Narita Airport’s plan to open a new passenger terminal and expand existing ones is likely designed to tackle the growing threat from the more conveniently located Haneda Airport, which is scheduled to begin regular international flights this month.
Narita hopes to increase the annual number of arrivals and departures to 300,000 in fiscal 2014, but the current terminal complex does not have the capacity to handle the expansion. And to make up for Narita’s inconvenient distance from Tokyo, the airport plans to double the number of regular domestic routes to 16.
Currently, Narita has 220,000 yearly arrival and departure slots. Municipalities and local residents have been hesitant to endorse the planned terminal expansion, citing noise and other reasons. But concerns have grown that Narita will lose business as Haneda airport, which is much closer to central Tokyo, moves toward accommodating more international flights.
When its fourth runway becomes operational in late October, Haneda will have 60,000 yearly slots–30,000 for daytime flights and 30,000 for early-morning and late-night flights. The Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry intends to further boost the number of international flights at Haneda by 30,000 over the next three years or so, as the control system covering the new runway matures.
After negotiating with local parties, Narita plans to reach a total of 300,000 arrival and departure slots by increasing them by 30,000 next fiscal year, 20,000 in fiscal 2012 and 30,000 in fiscal 2014. Narita’s terminal complex is already at full capacity. One senior official of a major airline described Narita as “one of the most difficult [airports] in the world to secure a slot.”
However, the planned increase in arrival and departure slots will enable Narita to accommodate more budget airlines. At present, Jetstar of Australia is the only low-cost carrier operating at Narita. As budget airlines have called for a reduction in landing fees and other airport costs, Narita apparently has decided to build a new, no-frills terminal for these carriers.
In addition, the airport will try to improve connections between international and domestic flights. Traditionally, Narita has been the nation’s international hub, while Haneda was primarily for domestic flights. But this has been criticized as being inconvenient for those making connections between international and domestic flights. Because of the bother, passengers have increasingly shied away from Narita, using Incheon Airport of South Korea and other airports to make international connections. This prompted Narita to consider increasing regular domestic routes to 16.