Skip to main content

Japanese airport wins transport achievement award

The International Transport Forum’s (ITF) global summit of Transport Ministers has recognised Osaka’s New Kansai International Airport Company (NKIAC) for its model of funding key transport infrastructure, with the award of its 2013 Transport Achievement Award. Established by the Japanese government in 2012, NKIAC integrated the operation of Osaka’s two major air hubs, Kansai International Airport (KIX) and Osaka International Airport (ITM). Under this new structure, funding for a dedicated low-cost carrier
May 24, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
The 998 International Transport Forum’s (ITF) global summit of Transport Ministers has recognised Osaka’s New Kansai International Airport Company (NKIAC) for its model of funding key transport infrastructure, with the award of its 2013 Transport Achievement Award.

Established by the Japanese government in 2012, NKIAC integrated the operation of Osaka’s two major air hubs, Kansai International Airport (KIX) and Osaka International Airport (ITM).

Under this new structure, funding for a dedicated low-cost carrier terminal and strategic price incentives for off-peak take-offs and landings have helped the emergence of a new low-cost carrier market in Japan. It has also spurred the development of a new airfreight logistics hub at KIX, boosting use of both airports.

The pooling of resources and cash flow has enabled innovative cross-funding, allowing government subsidies for KIX to be progressively reduced to zero.

With economic viability achieved, NKIAC is preparing the sale of concessions for the operation of both airports. This will be a first for major infrastructure in Japan and is expected to set an example for other projects.

The award will be presented to Mr Keiichi Ando, President of NKIAC, on 23 May during the 2013 Summit of Transport Ministers from the 54 member countries of the International Transport Forum (ITF), in the city of Leipzig, Germany.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Making ITS connections requires leadership
    January 23, 2020
    From making the commute more bearable to saving the planet, Jim Alfred of BlackBerry Certicom believes that ITS has the capacity to drive a range of transformational opportunities – but leadership is required, he warns
  • Authorities switch on to all electric buses as costs tumble
    January 9, 2018
    Alan Dron looks at changes in bus propulsion as cities look to improve air quality and seek to reduce maintenance costs. Despite the ending of various incentives to adopt alternative fuels, the introduction of electric buses by US transit authorities is picking up speed as performance improves, costs drop and air quality considerations become increasingly significant. More US bus manufacturers are introducing zero-emission models and some recent contracts will see many more passengers getting their first
  • Magway delivers future of transport
    January 18, 2021
    A dramatic shift towards e-commerce and home working, plus the need for sustainable deliveries, means future cities are at a crossroads, says Phill Davies of Magway
  • ITS asset management matters
    April 26, 2013
    Maintenance of on-road ITS kit needs to become more sophisticated; while new technologies can deliver better road maintenance. David Crawford investigates both sides of the issue "Good information is key to effective ITS asset maintenance,” says Ian Routledge of the Ian Routledge Consultancy (IRC), whose Imtrac (Information Management for TRAffic Control) system is poised for European expansion. Developed as an ‘intelligent filing cabinet’ for storing information about on-road equipment, the online database