(1)To Wards the Formulation of the Seventh 5-Year Plan for Airport improvement
In order to promote improvement of airports and air traffic safety facilities, since FY 1967 a series of 5-Year Plans for Airport Improvement have been formulated. The Sixth 5-year Plan has been completed at the end of FY 1995.
Therefore, with a view to formulating the Seventh 5-Year Plan for Airport Improvement (FY 19945-FY 2000), in March 1995 the Minister of Transport consulted with the Civil Aviation Commission on measures for future improvements to airports and air traffic safety facilities.
The Commission produced an interim report on the basic rationale for the Seventh 5-Year Plan for Airport Improvement, the outline being as follows.
(a)capital Region
For New Tokyo International Airport (Narita), development of parallel runways and others will be promoted.
For Tokyo International Airport (Haneda), steps shall be taken towards an early completion of Phase III work on the Offshore Development Project (including the use of new B and C runways). Comprehensive studies will be promoted on the precondition that a new key airport is to be constructed in Tokyo Bay, since it is forecast that the capacity of Tokyo International Airport will again reach its limit at the beginning of the 21st century, even with the completion of the Offshore Development Project.
(b)Kinki Region
Since Kansai International Airport is expected to reach the limit of its handling capacity at the beginning of the 21st century, work shall be commenced urgently on Phase II (including the construction of parallel runways) of the Overall Concept.
(c)Chubu Region
Since the runways and other parts of the present Nagoya Airport are expected to reach the limit of their handling capacity at the beginning of the 21st century, comprehensive studies shall be promoted on a new airport.
(d) The improvement of the other airports and air cargo facilities and air traffic
safety facilities shall be promoted.
(2)Improvement of the New Tokyo International Airport (Narita)
In FY 1994, Narita airport was used by 50 airline companies from 38 countries, with 123,000 aircraft departures and arrivals, 23.68 million air passengers, and 1.58 million tons of air freight handled over the year. With its single available runway the airport is now unable to cope with the strong demands for increased flights from airline companies already using the airport or requests from other airline companies to use the airport.
Therefore, in FY 1986 we started work on Phase II construction, making the No. 2 Passenger Terminal Building available for use in December 1992. In addition, we are now working on increasing the capacity of the No. 1 Passenger Terminal Building and other existing facilities. However, in order to expand airport capacity, it is absolutely vital that we develop new runways etc.
(3)Offshore Development Project for Tokyo International Airport
(Development currently being promoted with a view to making the new Runway C available from the end of FY 1996)
Tokyo International Airport provides a network for about 270 flights each day (540 departures and arrivals) to and from 43 airports nationwide, and the airport is used by some 41 million people each year. The airport's Offshore Development Project aims to extend Haneda Airport into the adjacent offshore area, using the Haneda offshore garbage landfill site created by the Tokyo metropolitan government, in order to eradicate aircraft noise pollution problems as well as maintaining its functions as a centre for domestic air traffic in the capital region in future. This project is to be undertaken in a total of three phases, the first and second of which are already complete.
As regards work for Phase III, the foundation improvement work that was started in FY 1990 was completed in FY 1994, and now we are improving air traffic safety facilities etc. as well as reclaiming land and paving runways, approach ways and others, with a view to making the new Runway C available at the end of FY 1996.
