Shimojishima Airport Management working with 10 airlines to establish passenger flight routes, expected to bring big economic boost

Shimojishima Airport Management working with 10 airlines to establish passenger flight routes, expected to bring big economic boost

Ongoing construction at Shimojishima’s passenger airport terminal. December 7, Miyako, Okinawa


December 16, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

The Shimojishima Airport Management Co., Ltd. (SAMCO, Kentaro Tomono, Representative Director) in Miyakojima, which is set to open a passenger terminal at Shimojishima Airport on March 30, 2019, is working with around ten airlines to establish new routes, both domestic and international.

The expansion of routes is expected to lead directly to a massive influx of tourists to the island, and a daily flight from a low-cost carrier (LCC) is expected to lead to about 3.8 billion yen annually in tourist spending.

Additional routes should multiply this economic benefit, so the company is working to establish new routes.

 

The terminal will be managed by Mitsubishi Estate, who began construction in October of 2017.

In January of 2018, Mitsubishi Estate established SAMCO in a joint investment with Kokuba-Gumi and Sojitz.

 

In October of this year, the LCC Jetstar Japan established the maiden route for the airport between Narita and Shimojishima.

Currently, no other routes have been officially established, however SAMCO is working with around 10 different airlines to establish domestic routes from Chubu, Kansai, and Kyushu, and international routes from places such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, Seoul, and Shanghai.

 

The additional routes will lead to an influx of tourists to the island, providing a significant economic boost.

SAMCO estimates that a single route making once-daily flights will lead to about 3.8 billion yen annually in tourist spending.

This was calculated as a single flight having a maximum capacity of about 180 passengers, with an average capacity of 75% for 135 passengers daily.

As 90% of these passengers are expected to be tourists, it is calculated that a single tourist will spend on average 86,554 yen (about $770 USD) in the Miyako region.

By increasing these flights, the total tourist spend could double or even triple, so the expectation is that new routes will be established.

 

SAMCO is continuing to negotiate routes with a goal of having multiple domestic round-trip flights, international charter flights, and regular international service in the summer in 2019, with the hope of achieving their original 2021 goal of bringing 300,000 tourists to the island each year by 2020.

 

Meanwhile, the construction of airport facilities will bear features geared specifically towards tourists.

The airport will be comprised of multiple buildings, and will have as few walls as possible, and have a design reminiscent of a spacious villa.

The finished product is set to resemble Samui Airport in Thailand.

The airport will come equipped with amenities such as a car rental and return area, convenient for tourists.

Combined with Miyako Island’s lush nature and ocean, the unique facility is sure to attract tourists from all over.

 

(English translation by T&CT and Sam Grieb)

 

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