come into service on April 8, 2015. In addition, the construction of LCC terminals (T3) is being contemplated for Kansai International Airport for completion by the end of FY2016. The feasibility of constructing new LCC terminal is being explored at Chubu International Airport as well. The second is the reduction of the airport facility fees, including landing fees. Efforts that began in FY2013 continued into FY2014 to mark down or review the airport facility fees, including landing fees at Narita International Airport and Kansai International Airport.

### c. Accelerating the reception of business jets

A business jet is a small aircraft with the capacity to hold a few to more than a dozen passengers at the most. Business jets are typically used by businesspersons valuing time because they are able to adjust times according to their schedules or utilize the plane as a secure space to carry on business meetings and such on board.

Business jets have become a means of global corporate activity in the U.S. and Europe. As Japan’s economy goes on global, the need to attract investment from overseas is beginning to win wider recognition than before, instead of conducting a one-sided exchanges, such as building a plant overseas. Hence, the importance and potentials of business jets in Japan will grow from a viewpoint of consolidating economic growths in the Asian regions from now on.

Comparisons of the status of business jet ownership by country, however, show that only 54 business jets are registered in Japan (in 2014), against the largest owner U.S. with about 19,000 business jets registered in the same year. Business jets are, thus, yet to be popular in Japan.

Structural measures have been implemented and regulations eased to get better prepared for hosting business jets flying into metropolitan airports.

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

## Column Business Jets Made More Convenient to Use at the Tokyo International Airport

The MLIT has taken the approaches outlined below for this fiscal year to make business jets more convenient at the Tokyo International Airport.

A traffic line furnished with dedicated CIQ facilities opened in the premises of the international passenger terminal on September 30, 2014. Operations have also been revised to assign one spot before the international passenger terminal to business jets using the dedicated traffic line on a priority basis. Consequently, the time spent by business jet users can travel within the airport has been cut by about 30 minutes.

Further, spots were added for six large business jets to park on March 5, 2015, in addition to existing spots for three jets, thereby allowing a total of nine jets to be parked. At the Narita international Airport as well, spots were added for large business jets to park on June 26, 2014.

On September 18 of the same year, a new access road was commissioned into service to allow vehicles to travel more efficiently within the airport. The access road has trimmed the time needed to travel between the dedicated business jet terminal and one of the business jet parking spots from about 16 minutes to about 8 minutes. In addition, two parking spots were added for use in getting on and off a business jet. Using these spots will cut the time needed to travel to the dedicated business jet terminal to about 5 minutes.

These approaches are expected to spur more inbound tourists to visit Japan aboard business jets.