Hayao Miyazaki International Airport

Logo for Hayao Miyazaki International Airport.

   **Hayao Miyazaki International Airport** (Taunga Rererangi O Te Ao, 宮崎駿国際空港, *Miyazaki Hayao Kokusai Kūkō) (*IATA: **HMZ**, ICAO: **NTSA**) is an international airport in the metropolitan region of Shin-Akihabara and its surrounding Shin-Akihabara District. It is located 32 kilometres southwest of downtown Shin-Akihabara on a small artificial island called Shiriya Island, built by reclaiming land from the Scaninia Bay. It has been named in honour of the Japanese animator, director, producer, screenwriter, author, and manga artist Hayao Miyazaki. It was constructed in 2021 for the growing population of Shin-Akihabara and the surrounding region, also becoming the first international airport of Furriston. It is one of the only two airports in the Principality of Furland (the other being Furchester International Airport).

## History

The necessity for direct flight connections from Furriston was observed as early as September 2020, but no materials could be formulated. It was later in November 2020 when the Shogun of Furriston decided to take the building of the airport in his own hands. After seeking the necessary permits for the building of an airport from the National Aviation Council, funds were procured to begin construction. The Shogun of Furriston, Swat, was a member of the construction commitee and was responsible for the desigining of the airport. Construction began in December 2020 and completed in February 2021 with the opening of Terminal 1 and 2 runways inaugurated by the two co-rulers, Jenny and Litheo of Furland, and the Shogun of Furriston, with the Enchantress of Forestia and the leader of Cajazagüs invited as guests. Formerly known as Shin-Akihabara Airport, it was later renamed in April 2021, with its recent expansion adding 2 new terminals and 16 new gates - adding the total number up to 23 gates and 5 terminals, despite local resistance. Since then it has become the largest airport by area in the country.

## Airlines and destination

Being a relatively new airport, it is served by a limited destinations and cities. One of its first connections was with the Furchester Airport, in the center of Furland Mainland, provided by FurAir. The first international service started on December 2020, with Qantas launching there flights from Hayao Miyazaki to Sydney. Later in the same month, Qantas connected the airport with Melbourne and Gold Coast in Australia as well. Since January 2021, Virgin Australia started providing direct connections to Brisbane, Canberra, Newcastle along with serving Sydney and Melbourne. Air New Zealand started their services from the Airport to Auckland and Wellington since February 2021. TransFurland, the state owned transport company of Furriston, connects the city with Narita International Airport in Tokyo and Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok since April 2020.

## Ground Transportation

Despite being outside of downtown Shin-Akihabara, Hayao Miyazaki Airport's fast public transportation is provided by Shin-Akihabara Metro. Several buses connect the airport with different corners of the city, as well as going far out into the province. An Airport Railway connects most of the gates and all the terminals with the parking zone and other accommodation facilities. Based on Bombardier Innovia Technology, the system was inaugurated in May 2021 after the expansion and has proven to be an immediate success.

Line B serves the Airport at the Hayao Miyazaki International Station, providing interchanges facilities with Line G and the Domestic Airport. It provides service from Bayside Front in the Shiriya Island up to far north of the city in Karkace passing through the commercial hubs of Lapinbhumi and Drai Eck. It also connects several residential areas and industrial zones such as (but not limited to) Pacific, Paranima, Ubanta, Avangard and Uume. Interchange facilities are provided to Line S at Lapinbhumi Square station, while numerous other stations interchanges with the Light Rail lines. Trains operate from 0600 to 2400 with an average frequency of 20 minutes daily with 24 hours operations on special occasions. Headways in peak hours reduce to as low as 5 minutes.

Line G links the northwestern parts of the city, linking Droen with the airport at Hayao Miyazaki International Airport Station. It provides interchange with Line B, while also connecting to Terminal 2. It provides direct connections with the Airport from major exotic neighbourhoods of Pantabury and Jolagarh. It A branch line connects to Peninga Island diverging from Sharmila Nagar running via Om Park. Direct connections are available at the Peninga Fountain with Line S. Trains runs daily from 0600 to 2300 with an average frequency of 15 minutes which in peak hours reduces to 10 minutes. On weakdays Trains on the Peninga Branch line terminates at Sharmila Nagar station due to lower ridership patronage.

Jepplandian TransLink provides two express bus services from the Airport. XSA1 departs from Terminal 1 at 0500 and arrives in Goru Beach at 1200, transversing through downtown with special halts in Konca and Makara, making it effectively one of the fastest connection from the city. It also stops at Akihabara Sud providing direct interchange facilities with the National and State Railways. It is also one of the few public transport facilities with stops at Millionaires Curve. XSA2 runs from Terminal 3 up to Mandihy Square, travelling through Peninga Island and Central Bayside, connecting to XSA1 at Dokkins Land from where the two service share the route. The connection has gained huge ridership among tourists for it's premium services.

Most of the public buses depart from the Hayao Miyazaki International Station providing direct access to Shin-Akihabara Metro. Certain Bus routes connect with particular terminals and gates, as well to provide fast and efficient transport links. Fixed rate taxis are operated by the department of State Transportation of Furriston and TransFurland, which can be booked from anywhere within 250 metres of the Airport though special fares are included in service from outside the city limits.

Being situated on an Island, the Airport Shirya Harbour facilities different passenger transport through the Scaninia Bay. Weekday Ferries runs from the airport to Demi Harbour in Central Bayside from 0700 to 2000. Another service connects with the Peninga Island, Aki, Nekopara and Bayside running from 0900 to 1900 being slighly less popular among travellers.

## Future

Though being a fairly new airport, it has been a huge success. The airport has been credited for the recent economic boom in the province, as well as in Furland. Being built above capacity, it is expected to run well at least for the next 20 years with required upgrading. For better connectivity, a direct rail connectivity with the national and state railway system has been proposed. Though having 2 metro rail connections, the system has been criticized for failing to provide direct connections with the downtown or any of the two central railway stations. To tackle this problem, an express rail service has also been proposed to run mostly below ground with elevated sections connecting the airport with Akihabara Sud and Shin-Akihabara Junction via the wards of Demi Harbour and Zlatopan. Alstom have shown potential interest in developing the system with services provided by there Pendolino ETR 675 trainsets operating at 230 km/hr slacing travel times from 2 hours to 20 minutes. An ariel cablecar system from the Airport to Nekopara with an intermidiate stop at the expo center as also been proposed.