JAL to use new Shizuoka airport

[ptbodale]

JAL to use Shizuoka airport from '09.

JAL will begin regular service linking Shizuoka with Fukuoka and New Chitose Airport near Sapporo when Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Airport opens in March 2009, aviation sources said Wednesday. JAL is the third air carrier to commit to a new service from the Shizuoka Prefecture airport, after ANA and Asiana. The company will operate one round-trip flight between Shizuoka and the Hokkaido airport and three between Shizuoka and Fukuoka each day, according to the sources. JAL and the Shizuoka Prefectural Government had initially agreed in May 2005 that the airline would begin operating at the new
airport, but rival ANA beat JAL to the punch by announcing in July it would use the airport.

Source: Kyodo

[CathayPacific]

There's no surprise. It's an airport right between Heneda and Nagoya, and it's the closest airport to the tourist district at Mt. Fuji.

I would also expect China Airlines at least opening scheduled charter service from Taipei. And probably a carrier from China opening service too.

By the way, there is another airport opening about 100km north of Narita next year. That would take the role to serve the extreme northern suburbs of Tokyo. So with Shizuoka taking the extreme western suburbs, pressure at HND can be relieved somewhat.

With 32 million people living in Greater Tokyo, Tokyo can afford to have 4 airports for sure.