Chubu Centrair International Airport

Chubu Centrair International Airport (中部国際空港, Chūbu Kokusai Kūkō) (IATA: NGO, ICAO: RJGG) is an international airport on an artificial island in Ise Bay, Tokoname City in Aichi Prefecture, 35 km (22 mi) south of Nagoya in central Japan.[3]

For the other airport serving Nagoya, see Nagoya Airfield.

Chubu Centrair International Airport

中部国際空港

Chūbu Kokusai Kūkō
Summary
Airport typePublic
Owner/OperatorCentral Japan International Airport Co., Ltd. (CJIAC)
ServesNagoya, Japan
LocationTokoname, Aichi, Japan
Opened17 February 2005 (2005-02-17)
Hub for
Focus city for
Elevation AMSL12 ft / 4 m
Coordinates34°51′30″N 136°48′19″E
Website(in English) www.centrair.jp
Map
RJGG
Location in Aichi Prefecture
RJGG
Location in Japan
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
18/36 3,500 11,483 Concrete/Asphalt
Statistics (2018)
Passengers12,043,636
Cargo (metric tonnes)199,140
Aircraft movement96,591

Centrair is classified as a first class airport and is the main international gateway for the Chubu ("central") region of Japan. The name "Centrair" (セントレア, Sentorea) is an abbreviation of Central Japan International Airport, an alternate translation used in the English name of the airport's operating company, Central Japan International Airport Co., Ltd. (中部国際空港株式会社, Chūbu Kokusai Kūkō Kabushiki-gaisha). 10.2 million people used the airport in 2015, ranking 8th busiest in the nation, and 208,000 tons of cargo was moved in 2015.

History
JAL and ANA operations at Chubu International Airport

Chubu Centrair serves the third largest metropolitan area in Japan, centered around the city of Nagoya. The region is a major manufacturing centre, with the headquarters and production facilities of Toyota Motor Corporation and production facilities for Mitsubishi Motors and Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation.[4]

With much lobbying by local business groups such as Toyota, especially for 24-hour cargo flights, construction started August 2000, with a budget of JPY¥768 billion (€5.5 billion, US$7.3 billion), but through efficient management nearly ¥100 billion was saved.[5] Penta-Ocean Construction was a major contractor.[6]

According to Japanese media sources, Kodo-kai, a Yakuza faction in the Yamaguchi-gumi group, earned an immense amount of money by being the sole supplier, via a front company called Samix, of dirt, rock, sand, and gravel for the airport construction project. Although several Samix executives were criminally indicted for racketeering, the prosecutions were later dropped. According to the sources, Kodo-kai had informants working within the Nagoya police who fed the organization inside information which allowed them to stay a step ahead of investigating authorities.[7]

When Chubu Centrair opened on 17 February 2005, it took over almost all of the existing Nagoya Airport's (now Nagoya Airfield) commercial flights, and relieved Tokyo and Kansai areas of cargo shipments. As a replacement for Nagoya Airport, it also inherited its IATA airport code NGO. The airport opened in time to service the influx of visitors for Expo 2005, located near Nagoya. The airport is speculated to have some competition with Shizuoka Airport, which opened on 4 June 2009.

Route withdrawals

There were several withdrawals from Chubu Centrair after the airport commenced its operation. American Airlines operated a route to Chicago for less than seven months in 2005, but said the service was "not as profitable as we had hoped".[8] In 2008, after a few years of service from Chubu Centrair, several airlines cancelled certain flights and put others on hiatus, including Malaysia Airlines' suspension of flight to Kuala Lumpur,[9] Jetstar ending its airport operation, Continental Airlines stopping its Honolulu flight and United Airlines' suspension of flights to San Francisco, citing low premium cabin demand. This flight also continued to Chicago until 2007.[10] Emirates and Hong Kong Express Airways left the airport in 2009, although HK Express resumed service from September 2014. Japan Airlines also ended its flights to Paris in 2009 and Bangkok in 2020. Garuda Indonesia ended service from Denpasar in March 2012, but returned to Nagoya with the opening of direct flights from Jakarta in March 2019 but only lasted until March 2020. EVA Air left the airport in June 2012 (they have since planned to resume service from June 2019). TransAsia Airways subsidiary V Air withdrew from Centrair and ended operations in October 2016.

Nagoya continues to offer intercontinental flights through Delta Air Lines' services to Detroit and Honolulu, Lufthansa's service to Frankfurt and Finnair's service to Helsinki.

Aichi Sky Expo

An exposition centre inside the airport island was opened on August 30, 2019. The exposition centre has 6 exhibition halls each being 10,000 m².[11] Events held at the venue include the 2019 edition of the Wired Music Festival on September 7 and 8.[12]

Ongoing projects

Three construction projects are ongoing to the southeast of the main terminal: "Flight of Dreams" to be completed in summer 2018 and a low-cost carrier terminal to be completed in early 2019.

Terminals
Main hall of arrival, at the conjuncture of the "T"-shaped building

The northern side of the terminal holds domestic flights, while the southern side holds international flights, each with dedicated ticket counters, security checkpoints and baggage carousels, and for international flights, immigration and customs facilities. Arrivals are processed on the second floor, and departures on the third. The lower level is used for maintenance, catering, and other ground operations, as well as for passenger buses to hardstands in the middle of the airport ramp. There are thirteen gates for domestic flights (including three bus gates), and fourteen for international flights (including three bus gates).[13]

Statistics

See source Wikidata query.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger1
AirlinesDestinations
Air Busan Busan,[14] Seoul–Incheon[15]
Air China Beijing–Capital, Shanghai–Pudong
Air Do Hakodate, Sapporo–Chitose
All Nippon Airways Asahikawa, Fukuoka, Hakodate, Ishigaki, Kagoshima, Memanbetsu, Miyako, Miyazaki, Nagasaki, Naha, Sapporo–Chitose, Sendai, Tokyo–Haneda
Seasonal: Kushiro
All Nippon Airways
operated by ANA Wings 		Akita, Kagoshima, Kumamoto, Matsuyama, Miyazaki, Niigata, Sendai, Tokyo–Narita
Asiana Airlines Seoul–Incheon
Cathay Pacific Hong Kong, Taipei–Taoyuan
Cebu Pacific Manila
China Airlines Taipei–Taoyuan
China Eastern Airlines Beijing–Daxing,[16] Chengdu, Lanzhou, Qingdao, Shanghai–Pudong, Taiyuan, Xi'an, Yantai
China Southern Airlines Changchun, Changsha, Dalian, Guangzhou, Harbin, Shanghai–Pudong, Shenyang, Wuhan
Delta Air Lines Detroit, Honolulu
Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi, Beijing–Daxing[17]
EVA Air Taipei–Taoyuan
Finnair Helsinki
HK Express Hong Kong
Ibex Airlines Fukuoka, Kagoshima,[18] Ōita, Sendai
Japan Airlines Honolulu, Sapporo–Chitose, Shanghai–Pudong, Taipei–Taoyuan, Tianjin, Tokyo–Haneda, Tokyo–Narita
Seasonal: Obihiro
Japan Transocean Air Naha
Jeju Air Seoul–Incheon
Jetstar Japan Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Manila, Naha, Sapporo–Chitose
Juneyao Airlines Nanjing, Shanghai–Pudong, Wuxi, Xiamen
Korean Air Busan, Seoul–Incheon
Loong Air Hangzhou, Xi'an
Lufthansa Frankfurt
Peach Sapporo–Chitose, Sendai[19]
Philippine Airlines Cebu, Manila
Shandong Airlines Jinan, Qingdao
Shanghai Airlines Guangzhou, Wenzhou
Shenzhen Airlines Wuxi
Singapore Airlines Singapore
Skymark Airlines Kagoshima, Naha, Sapporo–Chitose, Tokyo–Narita
Solaseed Air Kagoshima, Miyazaki, Naha
Spring Airlines Ningbo, Shanghai–Pudong, Shenzhen
StarFlyer Fukuoka, Taipei–Taoyuan
Thai AirAsia X Bangkok–Don Mueang
Thai Airways Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi
Thai Lion Air Bangkok–Don Mueang
Tianjin Airlines Tianjin
Tigerair Taiwan Kaohsiung, Taipei–Taoyuan
T'way Airlines Jeju
United Airlines Guam
Urumqi Air Jinan, Urumqi, Wuhan
Vietnam Airlines Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City
Notes

^1 Some destinations may be affected by COVID-19, therefore temporary suspensions are not distinguished as seasonal service.

Cargo
AirlinesDestinations
AirBridgeCargo Airlines Moscow–Sheremetyevo
ANA Cargo Hong Kong, Naha
Asiana Cargo Seoul–Incheon
DHL Aviation Anchorage, Cincinnati, Charleston (SC), Hong Kong, Leipzig/Halle, McConnell AFB, Everett, Seoul–Incheon, Taranto–Grottaglie, Taipei–Taoyuan
National Airlines (N8) Anchorage, Los Angeles
Nippon Cargo Airlines Osaka–Kansai, Tokyo–Narita
Transmile Air Services Kuala Lumpur–International
ULS Cargo Hong Kong, Istanbul–Atatürk

Ground transportation

Train
Meitetsu's μSky Limited Express (right) and Limited Express (left)

Central Japan International Airport Station, the train station for Centrair is located on the Meitetsu Airport Line operated by Nagoya Railroad (Meitetsu). The fastest "μSky Limited Express" service connects the airport to Meitetsu Nagoya Station in 28 minutes. All μSky Limited Express are operating at a max speed of 120 km/h by 2000 series trains, which have all seats designated and it is required to purchase an extra 360 yen "special limited express ticket".[20] Meitetsu Nagoya Station is adjacent to JR Nagoya Station, allowing transfers to Shinkansen bullet trains bound for not only Tokyo and Osaka but also many major cities, as well as JR, Meitetsu, and Kintetsu local trains, and the Nagoya Municipal Subway.

There is a proposal for a JR line linking Centrair to Nagoya Station and the JR network through Taketoyo Line's Okkawa Station. However, there's no actual construction works have been implemented at the moment.

There's also a proposal for Aonami line linking Centrair to Nagoya Station by constructing a tunnel or bridge. Nagoya municipal government has acted the assessment of feasibility in 2019.[21]

Bus

Centrair Limousine provides direct bus service to and from central Nagoya, Sakae, and major hotels.[22] It is operated by a private bus company in Mie Prefecture. High-speed buses to the neighboring prefectures for 3,000 yen to Kyoto via Mie Prefecture have been operating.[23][24]

Ferry

Three high-speed ferry services link Centrair to the west side of Ise Bay. One ferry connects to the passenger terminal in Tsu – a 40-minute trip. Another ferry links Matsusaka to Tokoname, taking 45 minutes.

Car

A toll road links Centrair and the mainland.

Bicycle

Bicycles are not allowed on the Centrair Bridge toll road to the mainland. Cyclists departing the airport must either take a Meitetsu local train one stop to Rinkū Tokoname Station or a taxi across the bridge to the Rinkū Interchange north of Aeon Mall Tokoname.

Shopping

Centrair features the 4th Floor Sky Town Shopping Center, accessible to the general public, with 61 shops and restaurants. organized into two "streets", Renga-dori[25] and Chochin-yokocho.[26] The Chochin-yokocho shops are individually themed to have an authentic Japanese look.

  • Entrance to Centrair's 4th Floor Sky Town
  • Shops in traditional Japanese style

Other facilities
FLIGHT OF DREAMS
Aichi Sky Expo

The Boeing Dreamlifter Operations Center is located on the airport's apron, to the south of the main terminal. This facility is used to store Japanese components of the Boeing 787 aircraft while awaiting airlift to the assembly facility in the US.[27]

Accolades
  • 2009: 4th Best Airport in the World of the Airport Service Quality Awards by Airports Council International[28]
  • 2011: 5th Best Airport Worldwide of the Airport Service Quality Awards by Airports Council International[29] and Best Airport by Size in the 5 to 15 million passenger category.[30]
  • 2015: Skytrax announced Chubu International Airport won the first place in the "Best Regional Airport 2015" award and first place in the "Best Regional Airport – Asia" award for the fifth year running.[31]
  • 2016: Skytrax rated Chubu International Airport as the "World's Best Regional Airport 2016" and the 6th "Best Airport Worldwide"[32][33]
  • 2017: Chubu International Airport became the first airport in the world to achieve "5-Star Regional Airport Rating" by Skytrax.[34]
  • 2018: For 4 consecutive years, Chubu International Airport won "The World's Best Regional Airport" award (Skytrax). Chubu was also ranked the 7th best airport in the world.[35][36]

References
  1. "SIA-ANA pact will pave way for more flights, Japan destinations for Singapore consumers". Singapore Airlines, All Nippon Airways. The Straits Times. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  2. "Chubu International Airport" (PDF). Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 October 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  3. AIS Japan
  4. "Feb 10, 2005 GOODBYE & AND THANK YOU KOMAKI AIRPORT". Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  5. "Central Japan International Airport". 23 April 2010. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  6. "Centrair Profile and History". airport-technology.com. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  7. Sentaku Magazine (reprinted in the Japan Times), "Kodo-kai still raking in funds despite tougher yakuza laws", 23 October 2015
  8. Skertic, Mark (1 October 2005). "American Airlines to end flights to Nagoya, Japan". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  9. "LCC eyes Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur runs". Kyodo. 13 September 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  10. Brown, Steven (22 July 2008). "United Airlines to stop flying to Nagoya from S.F." San Francisco Business Times. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  11. 株式会社インプレス (25 July 2019). セントレア直結の国際展示場「Aichi Sky Expo」公開。ビッグサイト、メッセ、インテックスに次ぐ規模. トラベル Watch (in Japanese). Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  12. 開催5周年にして初の2DAYS開催でパワーアップ「WIRED MUSIC FESTIVAL‘19」. PR Times (in Japanese). 1 February 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
  13. "Airport Guide" (PDF). Chubu Centrair International Airport. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  14. "Air Busan adds Busan – Nagoya service from June 2018".
  15. https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/289823/air-seoul-adds-new-routes-in-april-2020/
  16. Liu, Jim. "China Eastern moves Beijing – Japan service to Daxing in S20". Routesonline. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  17. https://www.etihad.com/en-ae/news/etihad-airway-announces-move-to-beijings-spectacular-daxing-international-airport
  18. Liu, Jim. "IBEX Airlines W20 operation changes". Routesonline. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  19. Liu, Jim. "Peach expands Nagoya Chubu service in late-Dec 2020". Routesonline. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  20. 名鉄空港特急「ミュースカイ」 – 電車のご利用案内 | 名古屋鉄道. www.meitetsu.co.jp. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  21. 関謙次. 名古屋・あおなみ線、中部空港まで延びる？ 市が検討へ. 朝日新聞 (in Japanese). Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  22. "Centrair Limousine – Chubu Centrair International Airport, Nagoya". Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  23. "AIRPORT BUS". Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  24. "Nonstop Express Limousine Bus Service". Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  25. Renga-dori Archived 1 September 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  26. Chochin-yokocho Archived 1 September 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  27. 中部国際空港セントレアのご案内 (PDF). Chubu Centrair International Airport. 1 June 2017. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  28. "The World's Best Airports 2009 – Asia Comes out on Top" Businessweek. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  29. "World's best airports announced – Asia dominates" Archived 9 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine CNN Go. 15 February 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  30. "ASQ Award for Best Airport by Size (5-15m)". Airports Council International. 14 February 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  31. "Chubu International Airport awarded Best Regional Airport 2015". Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  32. The 10 best airports in the world Retrieved 22 April 2018
  33. World's Best Airports 2016 Archived 18 September 2017 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 22 April 2018
  34. Chubu Centair is the world's first 5-star regional airport. Retrieved 22 April 2018
  35. World's Best Regional Airport 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2018
  36. World's best airports for 2018 Retrieved 18 July 2018
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