Tokyo's Haneda airport to expand terminal in Sept amid rising demand
A new satellite facility with six boarding gates was unveiled on Tuesday at Tokyo's Haneda airport ahead of its September launch amid growing air travel demand.
Tokyo's Haneda Airport unveiled a new six-gate satellite facility on Tuesday, set to launch in September amid rising air travel demand. This is the first major expansion since the terminal opened in September 1993. The hybrid structure, made of steel and approximately 1,800 cubic meters of timber, aims to minimize environmental impact, according to the airport's operator, Japan Airport Terminal Co. The new facility will also improve passenger convenience, featuring a lounge, a kids' area, and self-driving vehicles like "iino," which can carry up to four people for free.
With the Japanese government aiming to attract 60 million foreign visitors by 2030, Haneda's passenger numbers exceeded 90 million last year, surpassing the flight capacity limit of about 490,000 takeoffs and landings. Earlier expansions have increased baggage transportation time, leading to flight delays. Japanese airlines announced they will require domestic flight baggage to be checked in at least 30 minutes before departure, up from 20 minutes, to alleviate delays.
Airport executives asked for passengers' understanding and cooperation to ensure timely departures. The on-time departure rate, defined as flights departing within 15 minutes of the scheduled time, has been declining in recent years, averaging 83% for the top 10 airlines in fiscal year 2025.
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