TOKYO: A new satellite facility with six boarding gates was unveiled Tuesday(Aug 25) at Tokyo's Haneda airport ahead of its September launch amid growing air travel demand, Kyodo News reported.
The North Satellite Facility of Terminal 1 marks the first large-scale expansion since the terminal's launch in September 1993. The hybrid structure uses steel and about 1,800 cubic meters of timber to reduce its environmental impact, according to Haneda's operator, Japan Airport Terminal Co.
The new facility will also increase passenger convenience. Coming with a lounge and a kids' area, it offers self-driving vehicles for help getting around, including "iino", which can carry up to four people and is available free of charge.
With the Japanese government aiming to raise the number of foreign visitors to 60 million in 2030, Haneda Airport users exceeded 90 million last year for the first time. The number of takeoffs and landings reached approximately 490,000, the upper limit for flight capacity.
Along with the congestion, earlier expansions of terminal buildings have already increased the time required to transport baggage, contributing to flight delays.
Japanese airlines announced earlier this month that starting September, they will require baggage for domestic flights to be checked in at least 30 minutes before departure, instead of 20 minutes beforehand, to reduce delays.
Kumiko Saito, an executive officer of Japan Airlines Co, said at the pre-opening press event on Tuesday, "Since the distance from the security checkpoint will increase, Haneda Airport passengers will need to arrive earlier to complete check-in procedures, and we would like to ask for understanding and cooperation to ensure timely departures."
According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the on-time departure rate, defined as departures within 15 minutes of the scheduled time, has continued to decline in recent years, averaging 83 per cent among the top 10 airlines in fiscal year 2025. - Bernama-Kyodo
