New Kitakyushu Airport
Encyclopedia
is an airport
in Kokuraminami-ku, Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka
Japan
. It is built on an artificial island
in the western Seto Inland Sea, 3 km (1.9 mi) away from the main body of the city. It opened on March 16, 2006 as but was renamed in 2008. It is designated a second class airport, and it has some international charter flights.
It is the fourth airport in Japan to begin operating 24 hours a day, after New Chitose International Airport (Sapporo), Kansai International Airport
(Osaka
) and Chūbu Centrair International Airport
(Nagoya).
, which cannot engage in nighttime operations due to proximity to residential areas.
A new airport was intended to be free from such problems due to its offshore location, making possible 24-hour operation. Large cargo planes can use the airport, making possible convenient freight movement to and from nearby industrial zones. Toyota has a factory just across the bay from the airport.
as chairman. Construction began in October 1994.
The new airport was anticipated by residents in and around the cities of Kitakyūshū and Shimonoseki. The Kitakyushu municipal government organized bus tours to the construction site for interested citizens in an attempt to defuse controversy over the construction. The airport officially opened on March 16, 2006.
The first aircraft to land at the airport was a StarFlyer
Airbus on February 8, 2006. The first international flight from Shanghai
landed on March 26, 2006. A Korean low-cost carrier
, Jeju Air
, flew eight charter flights from Kitakyushu to Incheon International Airport
in summer 2008. Scheduled service on the route started in March 2009.
between Japan
and Tonga
as part of the inaugural IRB Pacific 5 Nations
series.
On August 2, 2006, the one millionth user of the airport was presented with souvenirs. By July 11, 2007, three million passengers had used the airport.
s and other large jet aircraft. The manmade island on which the airport is built is 4125 m (13,533 ft) long and 900 m (2,953 ft) wide (3.73 km² (1.4 sq mi)). Due to the island's size and the relative shallowness of the surrounding water,about 7 m (23 ft), future expansion is possible.
has its head office on the airport property.
A 2.1 km toll-free bridge connects the island to the Higashikyūshū Expressway via the Kanda-Kitakyūshūkūkō interchange. A direct rail link from Kokura Station
, 15 km away, may be established depending on demand.
Airport buses ferry passengers to and from nearby rail stations and bus terminals:
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
in Kokuraminami-ku, Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka
Fukuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyūshū Island. The capital is the city of Fukuoka.- History :Fukuoka Prefecture includes the former provinces of Chikugo, Chikuzen, and Buzen....
Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. It is built on an artificial island
Artificial island
An artificial island or man-made island is an island or archipelago that has been constructed by people rather than formed by natural means...
in the western Seto Inland Sea, 3 km (1.9 mi) away from the main body of the city. It opened on March 16, 2006 as but was renamed in 2008. It is designated a second class airport, and it has some international charter flights.
It is the fourth airport in Japan to begin operating 24 hours a day, after New Chitose International Airport (Sapporo), Kansai International Airport
Kansai International Airport
is an international airport located on an artificial island in the middle of Osaka Bay, southwest of Ōsaka Station, located within three municipalities, including Izumisano , Sennan , and Tajiri , in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. The airport is off the Honshu shore. The airport serves as an...
(Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
) and Chūbu Centrair International Airport
Chubu Centrair International Airport
is an airport on an artificial island in Ise Bay, Tokoname City in Aichi Prefecture, south of Nagoya in central Japan.Centrair is classified as a first class airport and is the main international gateway for the Chūbu region of Japan...
(Nagoya).
History
The former Kitakyūshū Airport had restrictions on aircraft operation due to its small size and location, close to mountains and residential areas. Heavy fog often resulted in flight cancellations. There were similar problems at the nearby Fukuoka AirportFukuoka Airport
, formerly known as Itazuke Air Base, is an international and domestic airport located east of Hakata Station in Fukuoka, Japan. It is officially designated a second class airport. It is operating at full capacity, and cannot be further expanded. Flights stop at 10 p.m...
, which cannot engage in nighttime operations due to proximity to residential areas.
A new airport was intended to be free from such problems due to its offshore location, making possible 24-hour operation. Large cargo planes can use the airport, making possible convenient freight movement to and from nearby industrial zones. Toyota has a factory just across the bay from the airport.
Construction
A committee to promote the construction of the new airport was founded in 1978, with the governor of FukuokaFukuoka Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyūshū Island. The capital is the city of Fukuoka.- History :Fukuoka Prefecture includes the former provinces of Chikugo, Chikuzen, and Buzen....
as chairman. Construction began in October 1994.
The new airport was anticipated by residents in and around the cities of Kitakyūshū and Shimonoseki. The Kitakyushu municipal government organized bus tours to the construction site for interested citizens in an attempt to defuse controversy over the construction. The airport officially opened on March 16, 2006.
Flights
StarFlyer
is a Japanese airline headquartered on the grounds of Kitakyushu Airport in Kokuraminami-ku, Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka Prefecture. It is modeled after JetBlue Airways as a "low-cost, high-quality" carrier aimed at business and leisure travelers. The airline began operations on March 16, 2006 and is one...
Airbus on February 8, 2006. The first international flight from Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
landed on March 26, 2006. A Korean low-cost carrier
Low-cost carrier
A low-cost carrier or low-cost airline is an airline that generally has lower fares and fewer comforts...
, Jeju Air
Jeju Air
Jeju Air is an airline based in Jeju City, Jeju-do, South Korea, offering scheduled domestic services between Jeju and the South Korean mainland out of Jeju International Airport or Gimpo International Airport, Seoul. Also, a number of regular charter flights is operated-History:Jeju Air was...
, flew eight charter flights from Kitakyushu to Incheon International Airport
Incheon International Airport
Incheon International Airport is the largest airport in South Korea, the primary airport serving the Seoul national capital area, and one of the largest and busiest airports in the world...
in summer 2008. Scheduled service on the route started in March 2009.
Events
Several events were held to commemorate the opening of the airport. A marathon was held on February 5, 2006 with half-marathon, 10 kilometre and five kilometre courses to celebrate the opening of the new airport. On June 4, 2006, a rugby game was played at Honjo StadiumHonjo Stadium
is a small athletic and multi-purpose stadium , opened in 1990 at Honjō Park in Ohiraki, Yahata Nishi-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka prefecture, Japan.-Association football:...
between Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and Tonga
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
as part of the inaugural IRB Pacific 5 Nations
IRB Pacific 5 Nations
The Pacific Nations Cup is an international rugby union competition originally known as the IRB Pacific 5 Nations and held between five Pacific Rim sides; Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and Junior All Blacks, . Previously, New Zealand was once represented by the New Zealand Māori...
series.
On August 2, 2006, the one millionth user of the airport was presented with souvenirs. By July 11, 2007, three million passengers had used the airport.
Dimensions
The runway is 2500 by (with a separate taxiway of 2500 by), enough to accommodate Boeing 747Boeing 747
The Boeing 747 is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport, often referred to by its original nickname, Jumbo Jet, or Queen of the Skies. It is among the world's most recognizable aircraft, and was the first wide-body ever produced...
s and other large jet aircraft. The manmade island on which the airport is built is 4125 m (13,533 ft) long and 900 m (2,953 ft) wide (3.73 km² (1.4 sq mi)). Due to the island's size and the relative shallowness of the surrounding water,about 7 m (23 ft), future expansion is possible.
Airlines and destinations
Other facilities
The airline StarFlyerStarFlyer
is a Japanese airline headquartered on the grounds of Kitakyushu Airport in Kokuraminami-ku, Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka Prefecture. It is modeled after JetBlue Airways as a "low-cost, high-quality" carrier aimed at business and leisure travelers. The airline began operations on March 16, 2006 and is one...
has its head office on the airport property.
Access
Kokura Station
in Kokura Kita ward is the main railway station in Kitakyushu, Japan. It is part of the JR Kyushu network and the Sanyo Shinkansen stops here. It is the second largest station in Kyūshū with 120,000 users daily...
, 15 km away, may be established depending on demand.
Airport buses ferry passengers to and from nearby rail stations and bus terminals:
- Sunatsu, via Kokura Station Bus Center (non-stop service between Kokura Station Bus Center and the airport)
- Wakamatsu StationWakamatsu Stationis a railway station on the Kyūshū Railway Company Chikuhō Main Line located in Wakamatsu-ku, Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan.- Station layout :There is a single island platform currently served by one track....
via Tobata StationTobata Stationis a railway station on the Kagoshima Main Line operated by Kyushu Railway Company in Tobata-ku, Kitakyūshū, Japan. The station opened on December 27, 1902....
and Kokura Station North Exit bus stop and Kokura Station Bus Center - Mukaida bus depot via Kitakyūshū Science and Research Park, Orio StationOrio Stationis a railway station in Yahata Nishi-ku, Kitakyushu, Japan. It was first opened in 1891.-Train Lines:*Kyushu Railway Company**Kagoshima Main Line**Chikuho Main Line...
West Exit bus stop, and Kurosaki Bus Center adjacent to Kurosaki StationKurosaki StationKurosaki Station is a station in Yahata Nishi-ku, Kitakyushu on the Kagoshima Main Line. It was first opened in 1891. Express trains, including the Sonic, stop here.- Lines :*JR Kyūshū**Kagoshima Main Line**Fukuhoku Yutaka Line... - Shimonoseki StationShimonoseki Stationis a railway station on the San'yō Main Line, operated by West Japan Railway Company in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi, Japan. Kyushu Railway Company and Japan Freight Railway Company also use this station....
via Retro Sambashi Dori bus stop near Mojikō StationMojiko Stationin Moji ward, Kitakyūshū, Japan is the oldest station on the Kagoshima Main Line in Kyūshū and the terminus for those going to and from Honshū by boat... - Kusami StationKusami Stationis a railway station on the Nippō Main Line operated by Kyushu Railway Company in Kokuraminami-ku, Kitakyūshū, Japan. It is the closest station for New Kitakyūshū Airport....
- Yukuhashi StationYukuhashi Stationis a railway station on the Nippō Main Line operated by Kyūshū Railway Company and Heisei Chikuho Railway Tagawa Line in Yukuhashi, Fukuoka, Japan....
via Kanda StationKanda Station (Fukuoka)is a railway station on the Nippō Main Line operated by Kyushu Railway Company in Kanda, Fukuoka, Japan....