Measures to tighten restrictions on takeoffs and landings have advanced in response to an increase in delayed flights arriving at Itami Airport after 9 p.m. Specifically, landings are restricted when the scheduled arrival time is 9 p.m. or later, while flights departing from Itami cannot take off if the door-closing time is after 8:45 p.m., among other strengthened rules. More flights may have their destinations changed to Kansai International Airport, which operates 24 hours a day.
Kansai Airports has maintained noise-control measures under which Itami Airport generally operates from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., while reviewing its previous practice of allowing takeoffs and landings after 9 p.m. only when unavoidable circumstances, such as bad weather or congested airspace, exist. It has been learned that the company is taking steps to tighten the restrictions in response to the increase in delayed flights.
Specifically, landings are restricted if, when a flight bound for Itami takes off, its scheduled arrival time is 9 p.m. or later. The company has also tightened the time-related rule that flights departing from Itami cannot take off if the aircraft door-closing time is after 8:45 p.m.
These measures could result in more cases where flights are unable to land at Itami Airport and have their destinations changed to Kansai International Airport, which operates 24 hours a day, potentially broadening the impact on passengers.
Kansai Airports said it intends to operate the airport in a way that minimizes the impact on passengers while maintaining coexistence with surrounding communities as a prerequisite.