Kansai Int'l Airport: still f'ed after all these years

[Taro Toporific]

BizTrend: Colossal construction costs shackle Kansai Int'l Airport
OSAKA, Aug. 25 Kyodo - - -After making a dazzling debut with the objective of becoming a hub of Asia almost 10 years ago, Kansai International Airport is in a situation akin to being in a fog with poor visibility. The nation's first 24-hour airport, with a 3,500-meter runway built on a manmade island off Osaka, observes its 10th anniversary on Sept. 4 but the management of Kansai International Airport Co. is shackled by the debt from the colossal construction cost of some 1.5 trillion yen.., originally estimated at 1 trillion yen, rose because of ground subsidence and cost overruns on building luxurious facilities.
In addition, it has not achieved its goal of becoming a hub airport for Asia, a role that is increasingly being played by South Korea's Inchon International Airport... Many Japanese travelers stay in the transit section of Inchon Airport on their way to European and U.S. cities and they stop there en route back to Japan.....

[Watcher]

And yet they continue to build. I'm shocked by the lack of traffic there (ok... so it's primarily international and all domestic travel goes on over at Itami) Seriously, this thing sucks (money). Maybe only 1 plane take-off or land every 10 mins. What an incredible waste. Oh, and don't think Osakan's don't know it. They're steamed at the politicos who did this to them.

[Blah Pete]

Are they still planning to build the second runway? I hope I am in Japan to see the day when the airport sinks...

[amdg]

Are they still planning to build the second runway?

Construction is already underway. I was out on the water by the airport a few weeks ago and noticed that the retaining walls are now being put in place.

[Big Booger]

I wonder if they learned from their last mistake and will build this one like 3 meters higher than the other... so that when it settles, it won't be an underwater runway?

[amdg]

I wonder if they learned from their last mistake and will build this one like 3 meters higher than the other... so that when it settles, it won't be an underwater runway?

Hmmm, I've checked the budget and there's only enough money to buy...

[amdg]

Actually guys, its MUCH worse than you think.... Kobe, which as you'll know is a good 30 mins drive from Osaka, has been building their own airport since 1999...

If you go out there and have a look at what's been done so far (a massive massive project by the way) you'll notice one very interesting thing... how damn close it is to Kansai airport. I have no idea what supposed demand they're trying to cater for.

http://www.city.kobe.jp/cityoffice/39/port/1-6_e.htm

[GridReaper]

Don't be talking trash about my favorite airport!

* FREE wireless Internet access throughout the airport, even in the departure areas.

* Rarely any waiting in the gaijin customs line.

* No bleak concrete armpit view, just the open ocean and coastline.

* JR line just across the street

* Many private areas to make out in

[same]

The bloody thing moves. It shivers periodically. Freaked me out at first. And that Rapi't train feels like you're being shipped off to prison.



Nice inside, though.

[Caustic Saint]

I've never been throught Kansai, but I think it's a pretty cool airport. I've seen the Discovery Channel special on it at least 5 times, and am always impressed with it.

And how can you not like an airport where the train looks like it's headed for Dr. Doom's secret lair?

[GuyJean]

Yikes!

That looks like a Nazi creation. Are those nubs on the plow to mutilate jumpers before they hit the tracks?

GJ

[kotatsuneko]

anyone know if its true that AirDo use secondhand planes, ex sdf pilots and also now unused sdf flightpaths?

bloody rough flying with them, unless you get an ANA co-share flight in which case the pilot is usually from ANA

still, not as bad as Mandarin. or recenty Aerocrashnburn, sorry aeroflot..

[kurohinge1]

I wonder if they learned from their last mistake and will build this one like 3 meters higher than the other... so that when it settles, it won't be an underwater runway?

Hmmm, I've checked the budget and there's only enough money to buy...

OR ...

... my favorite airport!

Me too! How can you not like massive and modern infrastructure that's not particularly busy or crowded (... unless you're paying for it, perhaps ).

[kurohinge1]

... still, not as bad as Mandarin ...

Here's a link to an explanation for what happened to Mandarin Flight 642, for anyone interested.

Funnily enough, a friend connected to Qantas emailed me about that incident the other day ...

... The freaky thing was that it was also a very, very lucky night for Qantas. The incident occurred at the old Kai Tak airport whereyou fly above the buildings roof tops before you land at the airport. A Qantas 747 had landed about two planes earlier and was taxiing back to the terminal. When the Airbus landed and flipped over, it came within metres of the Qantas plane, which had to veer off in order to avoid the a secondary crash ...

[blackcat]

"I have no idea what supposed demand they're trying to cater for."

CONCRETE dude CONCRETE Japan loves it, it`s everywhere but if you tell them it is...they can`t see it!!

They love nature they`ll tell you.

The kobe airport is to cater to the construction co`s that are hellbent on turning japan into a borg cube.

[GridReaper]

Heh, it wasn't too long ago when you had to pay some airport maintenance fee(~$30 I think) to even get to your airplane. It was a rude surprise because it wasn't included in the cost of your ticket, you had to put the money in a vending machine for a ticket, which you would give to the bag screeners (just before customs).

The fee was to cover the some new structure they built.

I hate to think what my "leave-when-you're-broke" friends would've done if they didn't know about the "exit fee".

[dimwit]

Don't be talking trash about my favorite airport!

* FREE wireless Internet access throughout the airport, even in the departure areas.

* Rarely any waiting in the gaijin customs line.

* No bleak concrete armpit view, just the open ocean and coastline.

* JR line just across the street

* Many private areas to make out in

Ex nay on and Ustoms-cex. We didn't want to see them change it DO WE?

My biggest complaint about Kansai is the total lack of a decent bar. They do sell overpriced Asahi Dry in cans in a couple dinky-sized combinis but there almost nothing on tap once you clear customs.

[Mulboyne]

Japan Times: Government strong-arms Itami airport

OSAKA -- The battle over the future of the Kansai region's airports heated up this month as the central government pressured Osaka's Itami airport to shift domestic flights to Kansai International Airport and threatened to take away Itami's official status as an international airport.
While welcomed by Kansai's regional senior governmental and business leaders as a way to raise domestic traffic at the subsidized Kansai airport, which just made its first profit since opening 10 years ago, the news angered many in the region who worry that it is the first step in Itami's eventual closure. Shutting down Itami, critics say, would make air travel to Osaka and Kyoto particularly difficult.
...Ten years ago, when Itami's international flights switched to newly opened Kansai International, most passengers were quite happy. Itami's facilities were old. Good restaurants, shops and other amenities were nonexistent, and long lines were the norm. At the time, the then Transport Ministry indicated Itami would soon be closed and its remaining domestic flights rerouted to Kansai International. But despite it's age and drabness, Itami's convenient location had won it many fans, and the ministry decided to leave it open as a strictly domestic airport.
Today, thanks to a major renovation in the late '90s partially led by All Nippon Airways, Itami's main customer, Itami airport is bright, clean and equipped with modern facilities, restaurants and coffee shops. Passengers found the new and improved airport a pleasure to use -- as did the airlines -- and Itami now handles 346 flights a day to 37 destinations.
That, however, is a major bone of contention for Kansai airport, which serves more domestic cities (39) than Itami, but only has about 80 takeoffs and landings of domestic flights scheduled daily for November. "Itami is 30 minutes from (downtown) Osaka," said Rika Mori, an Osaka mother of two who often flies with her family to Tokyo from Itami. "They should add more flights, not shift them to Kansai."

[Buraku]

The total cost of Kansai Airport so far is $15 billion, which is 40% over budget (mostly due to the sinking problem) while the airport is still deeply in debt, losing $560 million in interest every year, and aircraft have been kept away by high landing fees
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20051225TDY02007.htm
Chinese airliner failed to follow orders at KIX

[Tsuru]

And they're sinking even further in debt by the looks of it: construction for the second runway is well under way.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/922647/L/

Kansai's only plus is the nice people, even those working customs. This summer the guy glanced at my (Dutch) passport and I was waved right on through, without having to open anything
But as with every other kokusai kuuko in Japan immigration is a bitch. Eight (?) counters: three counters for foreigners with a line as long as my schlong as the only two flights that landed were from Dubai and Bangkok. The five remaining counters for Japanese had NO ONE passing through for half an hour before they decided to open ONE of the J-counters for foreign passes. A guy in a jellaba who forgot to fill in his little form also noticably raised the excitement of the guards and officers as some of them gathered round in a typical wa-disturbance emergency meeting. Pathetic.

[Buraku]

And yet they continue to build. I'm shocked by the lack of traffic there (ok... so it's primarily international and all domestic travel goes on over at Itami) Seriously, this thing sucks (money). Maybe only 1 plane take-off or land every 10 mins. What an incredible waste. Oh, and don't think Osakan's don't know it. They're steamed at the politicos who did this to them.

Despite big promises, bumpy ride ahead for new Kobe Airport
http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200601300100.html

[Buraku]

still in the shit

[Buraku]

Melbourne, Australia-based Jetstar Airways Pty Ltd., has announced it would offer economy class round-trip fares for $175 between Kansai Airport and Sydney for three months once the service is launched on March 25, 2007.
The Yomiuri Shimbun says the airline is offering a 25 percent discount for the round-trip fare on limited seats. Regular fare for the route is $680.
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7004390489

Already, the airline has started accepting reservations for the discounted flights. The route will be the first for Jetstar Airways, with the flights to be staffed by Japanese-speaking flight attendants.

[Mulboyne]

To avoid confusion, that $175 is a US dollar price converted from 20,000 yen. Still a good deal.

Here is the Yomiuri link.

[james]

hey, charles do i see a flight to australia in your near future?

[IkemenTommy]

I tried online booking already for next year GW but I got this instead...

Currently Jetstar Fares are subject to government approval and may only be purchased through a registered tour wholesaler.

To book call Jetstar Holidays on 0034 800 400 839 (Japanese language/ toll free)

Or contact your nearest travel agent.

A selection of Jetstar Holiday Packages may be booked at http://www.jetstar.com/holidays.

[IkemenTommy]

175 bucks.. but some of us still have to fly to KIX for the connecting flight so the ticket price can easily end up doubling.

[Buraku]

Kansai Airport runway to be used for landings
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20061104TDY02004.htm

[IkemenTommy]

Kansai Airport runway to be used for landings
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20061104TDY02004.htm

The Construction and Transport Ministry has decided to use Kansai Airport's 4,000-meter second runway, due to begin operating next August, primarily for landing purposes, airport sources said.

A380, here we come!

[Greji]

A380, here we come!

I think the other runway is under water.