Kansai Airports' New President Mikami Yasuaki: “Strengthening Kansai International's International Cargo Area” — Eager to Capture Demand and Compete with the Tokyo Metropolitan Area

Kansai Airports President Mikami Yasuaki (三上康章) took office in June and said in an interview with the Sankei Shimbun by the 10th that he plans to renovate and enhance the functions of Kansai International Airport's international cargo area. He is also considering expanding routes to Asia and North America to make up for reduced services to China. A large-scale renovation of Terminal 1 was completed in June following an investment of approximately ¥70 billion, and the company is now aiming to strengthen its system for handling approximately 60% of western Japan's international cargo at Kansai International Airport.

Mr. Mikami (三上氏) explained plans to capture demand from the Tokyo metropolitan area through efficient layout changes, DX and enhanced inspection functions at Kansai International Airport. While flights to China, which accounted for 40% of international flights last summer, have fallen by 70% since last autumn, he noted that inbound tourism is becoming more diversified through efforts to attract visitors from South Korea, Taiwan and elsewhere. He also indicated his intention to promote the resumption of services to Indonesia and India and expand routes to North America.

He also said that the policy of dividing roles among the three airports remains unchanged, with Itami Airport serving as the domestic-route hub and Kobe Airport complementing Kansai International and Itami. He expressed his ambition to expand the economic and tourism markets across the Kansai region by enhancing each airport's individual strengths. Mr. Mikami (三上氏), who was responsible for human resources and general affairs at Orix, one of Kansai Airports' shareholders, also reiterated the circumstances surrounding his appointment as president of Kansai Airports, which was established in 2015.