The operator of Tokyo’s Narita International Airport is planning to create a new budget terminal to cater for Japan’s new generation of low-cost carriers.
Japanese news agency Kyodo has reported that Narita International Airport Corp is planning to turn an existing building into the budget terminal by March 2015. Citing unnamed company sources, Kyodo said the new terminal will have no aerobridges and “simpler interior equipment” in an effort to keep costs to a minimum.
The news follows the news that Jetstar Japan will launch commercial services at Narita from 3 July 2012, after it received its Air Operator’s Certificate on Friday. The new airline is a joint venture between Qantas and Japan Airlines (JAL).
JAL’s rival, All Nippon Airways (ANA), is also planning to launch a new Narita-based low-cost carrier, with AirAsia Japan expected to commence operations in August. This will become ANA’s second new budget start-up in the space of six months, following the recent launch of Peach Aviation at Osaka’s Kansai International Airport.
Narita, which handled 28.1 million passengers in 2011, is the main hub for international flights entering and departing Japan.
