Narita, Kansai, and Centrair Airports Announce Record-Breaking Passenger Numbers for H1 FY2019

Over the last couple of days, the latest traffic numbers for Narita, Kansai, Itami, Kobe, and Nagoya Centrair airports were released. All of those except for Osaka International Airport (Itami) broke their past records.

Narita, Kansai, and Centrair Airports Announce Record-Breaking Passenger Numbers for H1 FY2019
Nagoya Centrair served a record number of passengers in H1 FY2019.

Narita Airport Serves 22.6 Million Passengers in H1 FY2019

Narita International Airport Corporation reported that a total of 22.6 million passengers used Narita airport in the first half of this fiscal year. That represents a 4% increase compared to the first half of last year, and a record number for the airport. Of those passengers, 18.6 million – or about 82% – traveled on international flights.

During the same period, the airport processed 1,019,850 tons of cargo – 8% less than in the first half of FY2018.

The above passenger and cargo numbers translate to a total of 135,126 aircraft movements in the first half of this fiscal year, a 5% increase year-on-year and a new record as well.

This is the fifth year in a row for Narita airport to report increase in the number of passengers served in the first half of the year and the eight time in a row to report an increase in the number of movements in the first half of a year – and to break its previous record.

Kansai Airports Serve 26.44 Million Passengers in H1 FY2019

Kansai Airports, the company managing the three Kansai area airports – Kansai, Itami, and Kobe – reported that the airports served 26.44 million passengers combined in the first half of fiscal year 2019.

Of that, 16.35 million passengers used Kansai airport, 8.39 million passengers used Itami airport, and 1.7 million passengers used Kobe airport.

Both of the domestic airports – Itami and Kobe – recorded single-digit year-on-year growth of 2% and 6%.

Kansai airport, on the other end, reported a 14% growth in domestic and 19% growth in international traffic for a combined 17% year-on-year growth compared to H1 FY2018.

A considerable amount of the international growth was caused by the increase in visitors from China which now account for almost a third of the airport’s international passengers.

The passenger numbers represent new records for Kansai and Kobe airports.

Besides the above, Kansai airport handled 379,576 tons (4% YoY decrease) and Itami airport handled 60,206 tons (6% YoY decrease).

The passenger and cargo numbers translate to 105,574 aircraft movements at Kansai airport (18% YoY increase), 69,887 movements at Itami airport (1% YoY increase), and 15,601 movements at Kobe airport (6% YoY increase) for a total of 191,062 movements across the three airports.

Nagoya Centrair Serves 6.98 Million Passengers in H1 FY2019

Finally, Central Japan International Airport Company reported that Nagoya Centrair airport served 6.98 million passengers the first half of fiscal year 2019, 13% more than in H1 FY2018.

Just like with Narita, Kansai, and Kobe airports, this number represents a new record for Centrair.

The airport also handled 96,926 tons of cargo. Of that, 87,705 was on international flights (11% YoY decrease) with the rest being domestic cargo (5% YoY decrease).

Nagoya Centrair saw a total of 58,754 aircraft movements, a 14% increase compared to the first half of last fiscal year.

Summary

The volume of cargo transported through the airports above has noticeably decreased for a variety of reasons including the ongoing U.S. – China trade war, a slowdown in the Chinese economy, and a sluggish consumption in Japan.

At the same time, all of the airports have enjoyed an increased number of passengers compared to the first half of the previous fiscal year with records at all of the airports other than Itami being broken. That’s in spite of the fact that the political tensions between Japan and South Korea as well as of the unrests in Hong Kong have already resulted in lower passenger numbers from those countries.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published.

Get Your FREE "Four Ways to Try Business Class Without Breaking the Bank" Guide

No, I am not going to tell you how to fly in first class and sip Dom Perignon for free…

But, I am going to introduce you to a couple of ways you can experiment with to try a business class flight without having to spend thousands of dollars.

How Can I Help You?