year. Business aviations are, thus, yet to be popular in Japan.

In an effort to accelerate the reception of business aviations, Japan has conditioned the relevant environment, mainly at Narita International Airport, and eased regulations pertaining to business aviations.

A business jet terminal furnished with CIQ facilities and having a privacy-enabled traffic line initiated service at Narita International Airport on March 31, 2012. Since April of the same year, the online filing of applications for arrival and departure slots and parking spots has been supported.

The Ministry will consider phasing in measures designed to accelerate the reception of business aviations at the airports nationwide, as they are practicable, with reference to the measures taken at Narita International Airport while exploring measures to consolidate the usage of business aviations, such as disseminating information proactively and easing regulations relevant to business aviations.

## ⑤ Present status of airport development

(a) Development of general airports, etc.

Emphasis has been shifted to achieving qualitative enhancement to general airports, etc. mainly by implementing mixes of hardware and software measures and leveraging existing airports. New projects relating to the construction of new runways and extension of existing runways will be translated into operation only if they are truly needed. The runway at New Ishigaki Airport was relocated and stretched in FY2012. At the same time, existing airports were renewed or improved to preserve their functionalities. At Naha Airport, an environmental assessment was conducted on the proposed construction of an additional runway located 1310 m to the shore from the current runway to make a drastic enhancement to its capacity. At Fukuoka Airport, plans to add to runways within its present premises have been debated with regard to a specific facility layout or other issues, on the basis of findings of a comprehensive survey conducted.

(b) Upgrading the functionalities of airports, etc.

The work of upgrading the functionalities of airports, etc. by leveraging existing stocks to overhaul airspaces and air routes has been promoted to enhance international competitiveness and the regional competitiveness of the airport backland areas.

## (2) Development and optimization of airport operation

## ① Realizing concessions related to Kansai International Airport and Osaka International Airport

On July 1, 2012, Kansai International Airport and Osaka International Airport merged into a New Kansai International Airport Co., Ltd. with a view to rejuvenating and reinforcing Kansai International Airport as an international core airport and expanding the demand for air transportation in the Kansai district through appropriate and effective utilization of the two airports. The newborn company aims to put measures into positive action, such as broadening a network of passengers to cover LCCs and other airliners, etc. and transforming into a cargo hub airport, and also to augment the corporate value of these two airports to set Rights to Operate Public Facility etc. (concession-based PFI project) at the earliest possible opportunity.

## ② Driving airport management reforms

In recognition of the role of government-owned airports etc. to support the future growth of Japan, it will be important to rejuvenate regional activity by increasing inflow and outflow of population, etc. through the utilization of these airports. Depending on regional conditions, it is preferable to integrate aeronautical and non-aeronautical service in airports to build efficient airport operation by private sector.

From this viewpoint, a bill designed to authorize private operation of government-owned airports etc. on the support of the PFI was submitted to the 183rd ordinary session of the Diet in April 2013. Once the bill is enacted, concrete approaches to realizing airport-specific management reforms will be worked out promptly with views of the local governments concerned taken into consideration.