The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure Transport and Tourism, which is currently conducting an environmental impact assessment ahead of construction on a new runway at Fukuoka Airport, has revised its estimate of annual take-offs and landings for FY2030 upward from 168,000 to 176,000. The ministry, which had previously upped its estimate based on the shrinking size of aircraft, boosted it again in light of the fact that anticipated demand is now significantly higher than the airport’s processing capacity. The demand figures were revised in light of several factors, including the increased number of low-cost carriers operating at the airport, changes in the number of flights from Asia based on economic growth there and GDP predictions. The new estimates will be incorporated into the impact assessment, a move that is thought to indicate the ministry’s intention to move ahead with the expansion. Once the assessment is completed sometime next year, the new runway is expected to take seven years to build once land is acquired and a cultural property survey is conducted. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun 8/23
Image provided by Fukuoka City. Source.