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.

Related Content

  • February 2, 2012
    European trends in environmental monitoring and enforcement
    David Crawford surveys European trends in environmental monitoring and enforcement
  • February 1, 2021
    Crises demand digital ITS response
    Digital transformation of transport hubs will be crucial in tackling present and future challenges, and Huawei’s current Shenzhen project highlights what can be achieved
  • January 31, 2012
    US ITS sector needs strategic leadership
    The US is losing its advantage in the ITS sector because of a lack of strategic leadership, according to a new report from the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. Here, Stephen Ezell, one of the report's authors, talks to ITS International about what can be done to remedy the situation. A new report from the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), Explaining International IT Leadership: Intelligent Transportation Systems, makes for sobering reading within the US ITS community.
  • July 11, 2023
    Congestion charge: Big Changes in the Big Apple
    New York City is falling in line with other major global cities in charging drivers for using its streets, writes Adam Hill: the Central Business District Tolling Program is on its way. Probably