Wakkanai Airport
Encyclopedia
is an airport located 10 km (6.2 mi) east southeast of Wakkanai, Hokkaidō
, Japan
.
Wakkanai is the northernmost airport in Japan which is capable of handling jet aircraft; due to its small size, it is susceptible to closures during the coldest winter months, in which case incoming aircraft are often diverted to Asahikawa Airport
. It has one jet bridge, one apron gate for mid-sized jet aircraft, and two apron gates for commuter aircraft.
began scheduled service to Okadama Airport
and Rishiri Airport in 1974, followed by Rebun Airport
in 1978 and New Chitose Airport
in 1980. Air Nippon discontinued the short Rebun and Rishiri commuter flights in 2003 due to poor load factors.
In 1987, the 1,200 m main runway was extended to 1,800 m, allowing All Nippon Airways
to begin jet service to Tokyo. The flight was initially seasonal and did not become a year-round service until 1997. The city of Wakkanai provided subsidies for city residents to use the flight until 2005, when discounted fares became available.
Until 1989, the JNR Temboku Line passed by the airport; however, the airport did not have a station on the line except for one day in June 1987, when a temporary Higashi-Koetoi Station was opened to accommodate visitors to the airport's extended runway.
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
, 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...
.
Wakkanai is the northernmost airport in Japan which is capable of handling jet aircraft; due to its small size, it is susceptible to closures during the coldest winter months, in which case incoming aircraft are often diverted to Asahikawa Airport
Asahikawa Airport
, is a single-runway regional airport in Hokkaidō, Japan, straddling the cities of Asahikawa and Higashikagura. It is a second class airport.- Airlines and destinations :-Access:...
. It has one jet bridge, one apron gate for mid-sized jet aircraft, and two apron gates for commuter aircraft.
History
Wakkanai Airport opened to passenger traffic in 1960, initially on an irregular basis. Air NipponAir Nippon
, is a regional airline based in the Shiodome City Center complex in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. A wholly owned subsidiary of All Nippon Airways , it mainly operates short routes and flights to isolated islands in support of ANA's domestic services...
began scheduled service to Okadama Airport
Okadama Airport
is an airport located in Okadamachō, Higashi-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, north of the city center of Sapporo. Its scheduled airline service is limited to turboprop flights to other cities in Hokkaidō: larger aircraft use New Chitose Airport, south of the city...
and Rishiri Airport in 1974, followed by Rebun Airport
Rebun Airport
Rebun Airport was a public aerodrome located at Rebun in the Hokkaidō Prefecture, Japan. It opened in June 1978 and closed on April 9, 2009....
in 1978 and New Chitose Airport
New Chitose Airport
, is an airport located south southeast of Chitose and Tomakomai, Hokkaidō, Japan, serving the Sapporo metropolitan area. By land area, it is the largest airport in Hokkaidō....
in 1980. Air Nippon discontinued the short Rebun and Rishiri commuter flights in 2003 due to poor load factors.
In 1987, the 1,200 m main runway was extended to 1,800 m, allowing All Nippon Airways
All Nippon Airways
, also known as or ANA, is one of the largest airlines in Japan. It is headquartered at the Shiodome City Center in the Shiodome area in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. It operates services to 49 destinations in Japan and 35 international routes and employed over 14,000 employees as of May 2009...
to begin jet service to Tokyo. The flight was initially seasonal and did not become a year-round service until 1997. The city of Wakkanai provided subsidies for city residents to use the flight until 2005, when discounted fares became available.
Airlines and destinations
Ground transportation
The airport is located on Japan National Route 238 approx. 12 km from central Wakkanai. There is regular bus service to Wakkanai Station and Wakkanai Ferry Terminal.Until 1989, the JNR Temboku Line passed by the airport; however, the airport did not have a station on the line except for one day in June 1987, when a temporary Higashi-Koetoi Station was opened to accommodate visitors to the airport's extended runway.