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Air transport in Japan has made rapid progress both in passenger and cargo sectors, reflecting people's increasing demand for high-speed transport. (Figs.15 and 16), 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.
To increase users' convenience through stimulation of competition among
airlines, the Ministry of Transport has taken various measures,including encouragement
of plural designation in international scheduled services and the promotion
of double or triple tracking to domestic routes, and traffic has steadily increased
in such routes, (Tables 6
and 7)
As for air fares, the Ministry has instructed airlines to heighten their
business efficiencys with the aim of introducing fares and tariffs as low as
possible and expanding and diversifying the discount syttem, maintaining safety
and quality of services. As for the problem of the directional differences in
the cost of tickets in certain routes, the Ministry has instructed airlines
to reduce fares for flights originating in Japan from the standpoints of decreasing
directional gaps of their own will.
In aviation talks with other countries, Japan has been respecting the fundamental
principle of the aviation agreement, that is, fair and equal opportunity for
both countries and has made it a basic goal to secure a transport capacity enough
to meet demand. In addition, the framework that enables international operation
routes by plural airlines need to be built up on the basis of the report of
the Council for Transport Policy in 1986, maintaining competitive ability of
Japanese airlines and making adjustments with other nation's aviation policy.
Internationalization of local airports has been encouraged through effective
use of charter flights, such as operations of international charter flights
originating in and destining local airports.
Japan's air transport demand is concentrated in the New Tokyo International Airport, the Tokyo International Airport and the Osaka International Airport. Since the handling capacity of these airports is reaching near its limit, it is urgently necessary to promote the construction of the new Kansai International Airport, the expansion of the New Tokyo International Airport and Tokyo International Airport Offshore Development Project under the 5th 5-year Airports Development Program, these projects will be carried out as the most important tasks. At the same time, we have carried out systematically the development of other airports, measures for environmental protection, and the development of aviation safety facilities. In July, 1988, new Runway A was put to use at the Tokyo Inertnational Airport; the new Chitose Airport and the new Amami Airport went into operation.
As for local air transport systems, such as commuter airlines, of basic important are the efforts of local people to overcome financial and other problems through inventive ideas, and the Ministry of Transport will support such efforts as new possibilities of aviation.
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