Chūbu Centrair International Airport

Chūbu Centrair International Airport
中部国際空港
Chūbu Kokusai Kūkō
IATA: NGO – ICAO: RJGG
Summary
Airport type Public
Owner/Operator Central Japan International Airport Co., Ltd. (CJIAC)
Serves Nagoya, Japan
Location Tokoname, Aichi, Japan
Hub for
Focus city for Japan Airlines
Elevation AMSL 12 ft / 4 m
Coordinates 34°51′30″N 136°48′19″E / 34.85833°N 136.80528°E / 34.85833; 136.80528Coordinates: 34°51′30″N 136°48′19″E / 34.85833°N 136.80528°E / 34.85833; 136.80528
Website www.centrair.jp
Map
NGO
RJGG

Location in Japan 34°51′30″N 136°48′19″E / 34.85833°N 136.80528°E / 34.85833; 136.80528

Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
18/36 3,500 11,483 Concrete/Asphalt
Source: Japanese AIP at AIS Japan[1]

Chūbu Centrair International Airport (中部国際空港 Chūbu Kokusai Kūkō) (IATA: NGO, ICAO: RJGG) is an airport on an artificial island in Ise Bay, Tokoname City in Aichi Prefecture, 35 km (22 mi) south of Nagoya in central Japan.[1]

Centrair is classified as a first class airport and is the main international gateway for the Chūbu ("central") region of Japan. The name "Centrair" (セントレア Sentorea) is an abbreviation of Central Japan International Airport, an alternate translation used in the English name of the airport's operating company, Central Japan International Airport Co., Ltd. (中部国際空港株式会社 Chūbu Kokusai Kūkō Kabushiki-gaisha).

Some 11,721,673 people used the airport in 2006, ranking 8th busiest in the nation, and 273,874 tons of cargo was moved in 2005.

History

JAL and ANA operations at Chūbu International Airport

Chūbu is Japan's third off-shore airport, after Nagasaki Airport and Kansai International Airport, and is also the second airport built in Japan on a manmade island. There are currently 5 offshore airports in Japan, including Kobe Airport and Kitakyushu Airport.

With much lobbying by local business groups such as Toyota, especially for 24-hour cargo flights, construction started August 2000, with a budget of JPY¥768 billion (€5.5 billion, US$7.3 billion), but through efficient management nearly ¥100 billion was saved.[2] Penta-Ocean Construction was a major contractor.[3]

In addition to cost-cutting measures, a number of environmental protection measures had been taken after learning from Kansai International Airport. The artificial island itself was shaped like the rounded letter "D" so that sea currents inside the bay will flow freely. Its shores were partially constructed with natural rocks and sloped to aid sea lifeforms to set up colonies. During the construction a species of little tern occasionally came, so a part of it was selected and set aside to aid nesting.

According to Japanese media sources, Kodo-kai, a Yakuza faction in the Yamaguchi-gumi group, earned an immense amount of money by being the sole supplier, via a front company called Samix, of dirt, rock, sand, and gravel for the airport construction project. Although several Samix executives were criminally indicted for racketeering, the prosecutions were later dropped. According to the sources, Kodo-kai had informants working within the Nagoya police who fed the organization inside information which allowed them to stay a step ahead of investigating authorities.[4]

When the airport opened on 17 February 2005, it took over almost all of the existing Nagoya Airport (now Nagoya Airfield)'s commercial flights, and relieved Tokyo and Kansai areas of cargo shipments. As a replacement for Nagoya Airport, it also inherited its IATA airport code NGO. The airport's opening anticipated the Expo 2005 in Aichi Prefecture. The airport is speculated to have some competition with Shizuoka Airport, which opened on 4 June 2009.

Japan Airlines (JAL) was the first airline to land an aircraft at Centrair: A Boeing 767-300ER, carrying around 206 passengers on board a charter flight from Saipan to commemorate the opening of Centrair. Since then, functions as a third largest metropolitan area in Japan, Nagoya and also Toyota Motor headquarters related gateway second only to Tokyo and Osaka.[5]

After opening withdrawals

There were several withdrawals from Centrair since the airport commenced its operation. American Airlines operated a Nagoya-Chicago route for less than seven months in 2005, but said the service was "not as profitable as we had hoped".[6] Later in 2008 saw a withdrawal or hiatus from several airlines, including Malaysia Airlines which suspended Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur–International route,[7] Jetstar ending its airport operation, Continental Airlines stopping its Honolulu flight and United Airlines which suspended service on the Nagoya-San Francisco in the same year, citing low premium cabin demand.[8] Emirates and Hong Kong Express Airways retreated from the airport in 2009. Garuda Indonesia and EVA Air (regular flights only) left the airport in 2012.

Terminals

Main terminal

Gates at Centrair
Main hall of arrival, at the conjuncture of the "T"-shaped building

The main terminal is shaped like a "T", with three piers radiating from a central ticketing area. This design keeps check-in distances below 300 m (980 ft). Originally, designers planned to make the main terminal resemble an origami crane from above, but this plan was abandoned due to cost.

The northern side of the terminal holds domestic flights, while the southern side holds international flights, each with dedicated ticket counters, security checkpoints and baggage carousels, and for international flights, immigration and customs facilities. Arrivals are processed on the second floor, and departures on the third. The lower level is used for maintenance, catering, and other ground operations, as well as for passenger buses to hardstands in the middle of the airport ramp. There are thirteen gates for domestic flights (including three bus gates), and fourteen for international flights (including three bus gates).[9]

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

AirlinesDestinations
Air China Beijing-Capital, Shanghai-Pudong
Air Do Sapporo-Chitose
All Nippon Airways Fukuoka, Hakodate, Hong Kong, Ishigaki, Memanbetsu, Miyazaki, Nagasaki, Naha, Sapporo-Chitose, Shanghai-Pudong, Tokyo-Haneda
All Nippon Airways
operated by ANA Wings 		Akita, Aomori, Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Matsuyama, Miyazaki, Niigata, Ōita, Sendai, Tokyo-Narita, Ube, Yonago
All Nippon Airways
operated by Ibex Airlines 		Sendai
Asiana Airlines Seoul-Incheon
Cathay Pacific Hong Kong, Taipei-Taoyuan
Cebu Pacific Manila
China Airlines Taipei-Taoyuan
China Eastern Airlines Qingdao, Shanghai-Pudong, Taiyuan,[10] Yantai[10]
China Southern Airlines Dalian, Guangzhou, Shanghai-Pudong, Shenyang, Wuhan, Zhengzhou[11]
Delta Air Lines Detroit, Guam, Honolulu
Seasonal: Saipan
Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi, Beijing-Capital
Finnair Helsinki
Garuda Indonesia Denpasar/Bali
HK Express Hong Kong
Japan Airlines Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi, Honolulu, Sapporo-Chitose, Sendai, Shanghai-Pudong, Taipei-Taoyuan, Tianjin, Tokyo-Narita
Japan Airlines
operated by J-Air 		Fukuoka, Naha, Tokyo-Haneda
Japan Airlines
operated by Japan Transocean Air 		Ishigaki, Naha
Jeju Air Seoul-Gimpo, Seoul-Incheon
Jetstar Japan Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Kumamoto, Naha,[12] Sapporo-Chitose, Taipei–Taoyuan[13]
Seasonal: Manila (begins 1 April 2016)[14]
Juneyao Airlines Shanghai-Pudong[15]
Korean Air Busan, Seoul-Incheon
Seasonal: Jeju
Lufthansa Frankfurt
Philippine Airlines Cebu, Manila
Singapore Airlines Singapore
Shenzhen Airlines Nantong[16]
Skymark Airlines Naha, Sapporo-Chitose
Spring Airlines Changzhou,[17] Guiyang,[17] Harbin, Hefei, Hohhot, Ningbo,[18] Shanghai-Pudong,[19] Shijiazhuang[20]
Thai Airways Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi
Tigerair Taiwan Taipei-Taoyuan[21]
United Airlines Guam
V Air Taipei-Taoyuan
Vietnam Airlines Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City

Cargo

AirlinesDestinations
Air Hong Kong Hong Kong
AirBridgeCargo Airlines Moscow-Sheremetyevo
ANA Cargo Hong Kong, Naha
Asiana Cargo Seoul-Incheon
British Airways World Cargo Hong Kong
DHL Aviation
operated by Atlas Air		 Charleston (SC), Cincinnati, McConnell AFB, Seattle-Paine, Taranto-Grottaglie
DHL Aviation
operated by Kalitta Air 		Anchorage, Chicago-O'Hare, Cincinnati, Hong Kong, Newark
DHL Aviation
operated by Polar Air Cargo 		Cincinnati
National Cargo Anchorage, Los Angeles, Tulsa
Nippon Cargo Airlines Osaka-Itami, Tokyo-Narita
Transmile Air Services Kuala Lumpur–International
ULS Cargo Hong Kong, Istanbul-Atatürk

Ground transportation

Train

Meitetsu's μSky Limited Express (right) and Limited Express (left)

Central Japan International Airport Station, the train station for Centrair is located on the Meitetsu Airport Line operated by Nagoya Railroad (Meitetsu). The fastest "μSky Limited Express" service connects the airport to Meitetsu-Nagoya Station in 28 minutes. Meitetsu Nagoya is adjacent to JR Nagoya Station, allowing transfers to Shinkansen high-speed trains bound for Kyoto and Shizuoka, as well as JR, Meitetsu, and Kintetsu local trains, and the Nagoya Municipal Subway.

Bus

Centrair Limousine provides direct bus service to and from central Nagoya, Sakae, and major hotels (with stops at Fushimi‐cho, Hilton Nagoya, Nagoya Kanko Hotel, Sakae, and Nagoya Tokyu Hotel).[22] Travel time is around 1 hour, and the charge is 1,000 yen for adults and 500 yen for children. Reservations are not required. And operated by private bus company in Mie Prefecture, High-speed bus to the neighboring prefectures, the bus of 3,000yen to Kyoto via Mie Prefecture has been operating.[23]

Ferry

Three high-speed ferry services link Centrair to the west side of Ise Bay. One ferry connects to the passenger terminal in Tsu – a 40-minute trip. Another ferry links Matsusaka to Tokoname, taking 45 minutes.

Car

A toll road links Centrair and the mainland.

Shopping

Centrair features the 4th Floor Sky Town Shopping Center, accessible to the general public, with 61 shops and restaurants. organized into two "streets", Renga-dori[24] and Chochin-yokocho.[25] The Chochin-yokocho shops are individually themed to have an authentic Japanese look.

There is a duty-free[26] area in the international departure area on the 3rd floor as well.

Accolades

See also

References

  1. 1 2 AIS Japan
  2. ↑ "Central Japan International Airport". Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  3. ↑ "Centrair Profile and History". airport-technology.com. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  4. ↑ Sentaku Magazine (reprinted in the Japan Times), "Kodo-kai still raking in funds despite tougher yakuza laws", 23 October 2015
  5. ↑ "Feb 10, 2005 GOODBYE & AND THANK YOU KOMAKI AIRPORT". Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  6. ↑ Skertic, Mark (1 October 2005). "American Airlines to end flights to Nagoya, Japan". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  7. ↑ "LCC eyes Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur runs". Kyodo. 13 September 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  8. ↑ Brown, Steven (22 July 2008). "United Airlines to stop flying to Nagoya from S.F.". San Francisco Business Times. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  9. ↑ "Airport Guide" (PDF). Chubu Centrair International Airport. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  10. 1 2 "China Eastern Adds Yantai - Nagoya Service in Sep/Oct 2015". Airlineroute.net. 8 September 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  11. ↑ "China Southern Adds New Zhengzhou - Japan Routes from late-June 2015". Airlineroute.net. 14 May 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  12. ↑ "Jetstar Route Map". Jetstar,accessdate=9 February 2015.
  13. ↑ "Jetstar Japan to Launch Taipei Service from late-Nov 2015". Airlineroute.net. 13 October 2015. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  14. ↑ "Jetstar Japan Adds Manila Service from mid-March 2016". airlineroute. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  15. ↑ "Juneyao Airlines Adds Shanghai - Nagoya Service from late-Sep 2015". Airlineroute.net. 14 August 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  16. ↑ http://airlineroute.net/2015/12/17/zh-ntg-jan16/
  17. 1 2 http://airlineroute.net/2015/08/12/9c-kixngo-sep15/
  18. ↑ http://airlineroute.net/2015/11/06/9c-ngbngo-dec15/
  19. ↑ "Spring Airlines Adds Shanghai - Nagoya Service from late-June 2015". Airlineroute.net. 4 June 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  20. ↑ "Spring Airlines Adds Nagoya Service from late-June 2015". Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  21. ↑ http://airlineroute.net/2015/12/16/it-fukngo-jan16/
  22. ↑ "Centrair Limousine - Chubu Centrair International Airport, Nagoya". Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  23. ↑ (PDF) http://www.sanco.co.jp/highway/centrair-kyoto-flyer_en.pdf. Retrieved 1 July 2015. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  24. ↑ Renga-dori
  25. ↑ Chochin-yokocho
  26. ↑ Centrair Duty Free
  27. ↑ "The World's Best Airports 2009 – Asia Comes out on Top" Businessweek. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  28. ↑ "World's best airports announced – Asia dominates" CNN Go. 15 February 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  29. ↑ "ASQ Award for Best Airport by Size (5-15m)". Airports Council International. 14 February 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2012.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chubu International Airport.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Chubu Centrair International Airport.
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