Chapter 6  New Developments 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.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.



6. 1 Activation of Air Transport


   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.



6. 2 Development of Airports in Progress


   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.


6. 3 Development of Regional Air Transport Systems


   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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