Chapter 3 New Age of Air Transport
Air transport in Japan has made rapid progress both in passenger and cargo
sectors, reflecting people's increasing demand for high-speed transport. (Figs.
10 and 11) Today, it is regarded as a primary means of long-haul transport.
Air transport is expected to continue steady growth in the years ahead as Japan
will be further internationalized.
3. 1 Revitalization of Air Transport
In response to a rapid growth in aviation mentioned above, the Council for
Transport Policy presented a report in 1986, in which future directions of aviation
policies were recommended. In accordance with the recommendations contained in
the report, the Ministry of Transport has endeavored to increase users' convenience
through stimulation of competition among airlines. The measures taken by the Ministry
include full privatization of Japan Air Lines (November 18, 1987), encouragement
of international operation routes by more than one airline company (Table
4, Fig. 12) and introduction
of double-and triple-tracking to domestic routes. (Table
5, Fig. 13) Flexible steps have
also been adopted for air fare problems, including directional gaps in international
air fares according to routes resulting from strong yen, differences in domestic
fares between northern and southern routes and fare discounts. (Table
6)
In aviation talks with other countries, Japan has been respecting the fundamental
principle of the aviation agreement, that is, fair and equal opportunity, and
has made it a basic goal to secure a transport capacity enough to meet transport
demand. In addition, the above-mentioned report of the Council for Transport Policy
has been taken accout of in the negotiations with other nations.
3. 2 Development of Airports
The greater part of demand for air transport in Japan is concentrated on
the three principal airports, New Tokyo International Airport, Tokyo International
Airport and Osaka International Airport. (Table
7) As the capacity of these three airports has reached the saturation point,
the promotion of the three large-scale projects, that is, the construction of
Kansai International Airport, improvement of New Tokyo International Airport
and extension of Tokyo International Airport to the offing, is now an urgent
task. According to the fifth five-year plan of airport development, therefore,
the three projects are given top priority. At the same time, the five-year plan
will continue to improve other airports, take necessary environmental measures
and reinforce air security facilities.
3. 3 Introduction of Regional Aviation Systems
As the public is further oriented toward transport of higher speed, expectations
are increasingly pinned upon commuter airlines all over the country. To realize
this form of regional aviation systems, however, there are a number of problems
to be solved, including the question of how to secure profitability. Accordingly,
efforts to stimulate demand will be needed on the part of the operators of commuter
airlines, while supporting actions by those concerned will be taken in each region.
The Ministry of Transport established a subcommittee for regional air transport
problems in the Council for Civil Aviation and will deal with questions of regional
air transport, including those of commuter airlines, taking account of the discussions
at the subcommittee.
