Narita International Airport

Narita International Airport (Japanese: 成田国際空港 Narita Kokusai Kūkō) {{Airport codes|NRT|RJAA}} is an international airport in the eastern portion of Narita, Chiba, Japan.

History

Construction

In 1962, the Japanese government began investigating possible alternatives to the crowded Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport), and proposed a New Tokyo International Airport (新東京国際空港 Shin-Tōkyō Kokusai Kūkō) to take over Haneda's international flights. Initially, surveyors proposed placing the airport in the village of Tomisato. However, Tomisato residents refused to give up their land, so the site was moved 5 km northeast to the village of Sanrizuka, where the Imperial Household had a large farm. The government therefore had less difficulty placing the planned airport.

Related Topics:
1962 - Tokyo International Airport - Tomisato - Sanrizuka - Imperial Household

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Due to land scarcity and weak expropriation laws, the initial and ongoing development of Narita Airport has been the cause of great controversy. Many people against the Vietnam War saw the construction of a new airport as participation in the war effort. The Japanese government had offered to relocate homeowners in the surrounding regions. However, neighbours threatened to burn down new homes of anyone who would voluntarily move. In 1971, when expropriations began, 291 area farmers were arrested and more than 1,000 villagers and police were injured in fights. Later that year, some villagers chained themselves to their homes and refused to leave.

Related Topics:
Expropriation - Vietnam War - 1971

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The airport was scheduled to open in March of 1978. Shortly before its scheduled opening, a group of villagers broke into the control tower and destroyed much of its equipment, delaying the opening by another two months.

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In 1986, the airport authority began work on Phase II, a new runway north of the airport's original main runway. To avoid the problems that plagued the first phase, the authorities agreed not to confiscate additional land. Residents in surrounding regions were compensated for the increased noise-pollution with home upgrades and soundproofing, although some farmers who refused to give up their land were forced to keep henhouses close to the threshold of the new runway. The runway opened in April of 2002, in time for the World Cup events shared between Japan and South Korea.

Related Topics:
1986 - Runway - 2002 - World Cup - South Korea

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Today, individuals continue to stage demonstrations regularly on the eastern edge of the airport.

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Subsequent history

Narita also had other problems. Arguments over slots and landing fees have plagued the busy airport. Because so many airlines want to use it, the Japanese aviation authorities have limited the number of flights each airline can operate from this airport, making the airport expensive for both airlines and their passengers.

Related Topics:
Landing fees - Airline

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Recently, Tokyo International Airport was allowed to have other international flights within Asia, as well as to Hawaii, in an attempt to alleviate Narita's capacity problems. There has been some discussion about exchanging roles between Narita airport and Haneda to accommodate Tokyo residents as Narita is in Chiba prefecture and a typical train ride from even the eastern parts of Tokyo on an express train takes roughly 1 hour.

Related Topics:
Tokyo International Airport - Asia - Hawaii

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In May 2001, Kim Jong-nam, the son of North Korean President Kim Jong-il, was arrested at New Tokyo International Airport for travelling with a forged passport, and was deported to the People's Republic of China.

Related Topics:
May - 2001 - Kim Jong-nam - North Korea - Kim Jong-il - People's Republic of China

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On April 1, 2004, New Tokyo International Airport was officially renamed Narita International Airport, reflecting its popular designation since the 1970s.

Related Topics:
April 1 - 2004 - 1970s

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On July 13, 2004, Bobby Fischer was detained at Narita Airport for allegedly using an invalid U.S. passport while trying to board a Japan Airlines flight to Ninoy Aquino International Airport outside Manila; he left Japan a year later after obtaining asylum in Iceland.

Related Topics:
July 13 - 2004 - Bobby Fischer - U.S. - Passport - Japan Airlines - Ninoy Aquino International Airport - Manila - Iceland

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Disasters

On 22 June 1985, a piece of luggage exploded while being transferred to an Air India flight, killing two baggage handlers. The luggage had originated at the Vancouver International Airport. Fifty-five minutes later, another piece of luggage, also originating from Vancouver, exploded on Air India Flight 182, killing all onboard.

Related Topics:
22 June - 1985 - Air India - Vancouver International Airport - Air India Flight 182

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On 11 December 1994, Philippine Airlines Flight 434 was flying its second leg of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport - Mactan-Cebu International Airport - Tokyo route when a bomb on board exploded, killing a passenger. The airliner was able to make an emergency landing.

Related Topics:
11 December - 1994 - Philippine Airlines - Flight 434 - Ninoy Aquino International Airport - Mactan-Cebu International Airport

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Authorities later found out that Ramzi Yousef planted the bomb on the airliner to test the bomb for his Project Bojinka plot. His project was discovered in Manila, Philippines after an apartment fire on the night of 6 January and the morning of 7 January 1995. If the plot had not been discovered, one or more aircraft owned by a U.S. carrier/s flying to this airport would have blown up over the Pacific Ocean on 21 January, 1995 as part of the project's first phase.

Related Topics:
Ramzi Yousef - Project Bojinka - Manila - Philippines - 6 January - 7 January - 1995 - U.S. - Pacific Ocean - 21 January

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