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B8 | The Times | Friday, March 20, 2020 FLIGHT OPTIONS INCREASE AHEAD OF OLYMPICS

okyo’s Haneda Airport is poised to sig- In 2019, around 30 million tourists visited nificantly increase the number of Japan, and the Japanese government’s target T international flights using the airport. increase for visitors is to go as high as 40 mil- In January 2019, in preparation for Tokyo lion in 2020 and around 60 million visitors in hosting the 2020 Summer Olympics and the year 2030. The 50 more international Paralympics, the flight slots are the first step toward handling reached an agreement with the United States that influx. Nearly half of them, 24 to be on new routes for airplanes using Haneda. exact, will be between Japan and This led to the addition of 50 more interna- across the U.S. such as , Denver, tional flight slots at Haneda and a boost to Dallas, Detroit, New York, Washington, D.C., the number of international flight slots to 130 Houston, Portland, San Jose, Seattle and a day. The expansion will come into effect on more. of the routes will be brand-new March 29, and although it seem like the direct connections between Japan and beginning of a whole new era for the airport, Russia, , , Italy, Sweden, Finland it’ll in fact be a return to its roots. and Denmark. Finally, some of the additional flights will also Japan and . Benefit from its proximity to Tokyo Altogether, they will account for 39,000 more Before 1978, Haneda was actually Japan’s pri- international flights at Haneda a year, for a mary international airport before almost all total of 99,000, servicing about 25 million of its global flights were moved to Narita passengers. Airport. It wasn’t until 2010 and the construc- tion of their fourth runway, Runway D, that More flights from Haneda to the U.S. international flights returned to Haneda, Some of the that will benefit the most which in the meantime had built an impres- from this boost include major U.S. carrier sive network of domestic flights, connecting Delta Air Lines, (ANA) and The third-floor departure lobby of Haneda Airport’s Terminal 3, formerly known as the International Terminal. The the capital with 48 cities across Japan. That, (JAL). Delta will actually move name change reflects the choice to have an additional terminal accommodate international flights from March 29. combined with its central location, as Haneda all of its operations from Narita to Haneda is located only 15 kilometers from Tokyo’s while JAL will do so with slots, while Instead, in the event of a south wind, which increase of international passengers, espe- center, has made it a key element in the gov- increasing their international connections blows about 40 percent of the year, the addi- cially if they take advantage of Haneda’s ernment’s plan to boost the number of inter- from 22 to 34. ANA will see an even bigger tional flights will fly over large portions of domestic connections to visit cities across national flights to and from Japan. It’s also uptick. With an added 14 slots, ANA will now Tokyo between 3 and 7 p.m. In the event of a the country. Another benefit of Haneda why the current expansion looks beyond the have 49 slots per day, including six new ones north wind, the new flights will be redirected becoming Japan’s leading hub airport is its upcoming Olympics. to the U.S. The expansion will also see ANA fly to cover a smaller portion of Japan’s capital, convenient network of public transport, to and for the very first mostly over the areas facing , and although that too will undergo change in the time. will only operate between 7 and 11:30 a.m. wake of the current expansion. All of this has been made possible by and again between 3 and 7 p.m. Noise reduc- allowing carriers to fly directly over Tokyo’s tion will also be helped by, for example, rais- Two terminals for international flights airspace, which has raised some concerns ing the altitude of the point where an air- Up until now, Haneda was accessible via about possible noise pollution and falling plane starts to descend for landing. three stops: the domestic terminals 1 objects. Fortunately, efforts have been made In return for any inconveniences, Tokyo and 2, and the International Terminal. to address that issue. The new routes will not and possibly the rest of Japan will see many However, to accommodate the 50 more inter- be in operation over the city 24 hours a day. economic and cultural benefits from an national flight slots, parts of Terminal 2 will be dedicated to handling international flights as well. To make the nomenclature a little clearer, it was decided that the International Terminal should be renamed “Terminal 3” on March 14. Passengers who have used Haneda Left: New uniforms for decades may need a little time to get used for concierges at to the idea of taking an international flight Haneda Airport will from Terminal 2. But those changing between be introduced from international and domestic flights will appre- March 29 when airlines’ ciate how smooth the process will become summer flight schedules since it will all take place in the same build- kick off and 50 more ing. international flight slots are added. Far New technologies help processes left: The boarding The new Terminal 2 will also offer other kinds of a satellite lobby in of perks, including shorter waiting times. Terminal 3. Upgrades such as Smart Lane allow up to Friday, March 20, 2020 | | B9 HANEDA AIRPORT

Left: An artist’s rendering of Terminal 3’s Sky Lounge South. Right: An artist’s rendering of part of Terminal 2. four people prepared to be able to use the language, but there are a few smartphone baggage screening lanes at the security apps offered by outside parties that can help check to shorten the whole process. The One travelers with translations. In the end, ID system will serve a similar purpose. though, whatever the challenge may be, According to Tatsushi Hirata, senior man- Haneda is sure to handle it. Despite already ager in charge of corporate planning for the handling 450,000 flights a year — a number Duty Free Shop Central on the third floor of Terminal 3 features over 30 shops, including luxury brands. Tokyo International Air Terminal Corporation expected to reach about 490,000 with the (TIAT), which manages Haneda’s interna- expansion — and being one of the busiest tional terminals, One ID may be implemented airports in the world, it’s been awarded the New international routes at Haneda (as of press time) sometime during the first half of the year. It’s highest score of five stars by the airport Country City Start date a face recognition system that will be used review and ranking site Skytrax for six years together with a passport photo. Right now, in a row. This puts Haneda in the same com- United States Atlanta Delta Air Lines (Delta) March 29 passengers have to constantly show their ID pany as Airport, ’s Detroit Delta March 29 at check-in, security, immigration or at the International Airport, Portland Delta March 29 boarding gate. However, by scanning their ID International Airport and ’s Changi Seattle Delta, All Nippon Airways (ANA) March 29 and face just once at check-in points, people Airport. Haneda is also continuously ranked will be able to effectively board their plane as one of the cleanest airports in the world Dallas American Airlines, Japan Airlines (JAL) March 29 document-free, not having to take out their and has received praise for their treatment Chicago United Airlines (United), JAL March 29 passport and other paperwork at every turn. of elderly and disabled passengers, making United, JAL, ANA March 29 ID checks will still be performed at immigra- it all the more worthy of the title of Japan’s tion, but the system should allow for a leading hub airport. Washington, D.C. United, ANA March 29 smoother flow of passengers through the air- Newark United March 29 port. Houston ANA March 29 ANA March 29 New facilities at terminals 2 and 3 Terminal 2 will also offer duty-free shopping San Jose ANA March 29 opportunities. Haneda’s central duty-free Honolulu Delta, JAL March 29 shop at Terminal 3 is the largest establish- Brisbane Virgin Australia March 29 ment of its kind in Japan, and the one in the Qantas Airways March 29 expanded Terminal 2 should be comparable to that, Hirata explained. The duty-free shop- China (Daxing) China Eastern Airlines March 29 ping at Terminal 2’s arrivals area, on the China Southern Airlines March 29 other hand, will be about three times as big Dalian JAL March 29 as the one at Terminal 3. But that doesn’t Qingdao ANA March 29 mean that Terminal 3 will only undergo a Shenzhen ANA March 29 name change and then be completely forgot- ten. In fact, major renovation work totaling India ANA, JAL March 29 ¥22 billion has been carried out at the old Russia (Domodedovo) ANA July 1 International Terminal, including expanding Moscow (Sheremetyevo) JAL, Aeroflot March 29 its check-in area, constructing new luggage Turkey Istanbul March 30 at the arrival lobby and other ANA July 6 improvements. Of course, the influx of international trav- Italy Alitalia March 30 elers has required Haneda to expand their Milan ANA April 20 multilingual support. Right now, the airport Sweden ANA June 6 offers signs in Japanese, English, simplified Denmark Copenhagen Scandinavian Airlines System March 30 Chinese and Korean. While they naturally deal with passengers from all over the world, A second-floor hallway leading to the arrival lobby of Finland JAL March 29 Finair March 30 it’s impossible to construct signage in every Haneda Airport’s Terminal 3. B10 | The Japan Times | Friday, March 20, 2020 HANEDA AIRPORT (Sponsored content) EXPANSION TO BENEFIT INFLUX OF TRAVELERS

rom March 29, part of Terminal 2 at Terminal Corporation, which manages Left: Haneda Airport’s Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, which up Haneda. Terminal 2 will soon F until now was used only for domestic “When you look at most major airports, be accommodating routes, will begin to handle new interna- they’re located a bit far from city centers. In both domestic and tional flights. To avoid confusion, prior to the and , it’s 24 kilometers. Incheon international flights, start date of Terminal 2 taking on the new is located nearly 50 kilometers from . so passengers should flights, the current International Terminal Narita itself is about 50 kilometers from check which terminal was renamed “Terminal 3” on March 14. Tokyo. But Haneda is 15 kilometers. … Having they will be flying With 50 new slots, the new international a second international airport closer to the out from. flights will significantly boost Haneda’s city center is very beneficial,” especially capacity, allowing it to accommodate more with the impending influx of tourists that flights and direct routes between it and cit- will be arriving in Japan in 2020. But ies across the U.S., as well as Russia, India, Japanese travelers are also poised to benefit Turkey, Italy, Sweden, Finland and Denmark. from the expansion. As a result, Haneda will become a global air- “At Haneda we have 48 (domestic flight port hub. This also means Tokyo will have a routes),” Hirata said. “By combining that dual airport hub, along with Narita. “It just with new direct international flights … peo- makes sense from an economic, cultural ple living all over Japan will be able to and point of view,” said Tatsushi change at Haneda to travel abroad.” Hirata, senior manager in charge of corpo- Some might ask why not build a whole Even so, the entire expansion has been a parts of Terminal 3. … With Smart Lane, up to rate planning for the Tokyo International Air new terminal to handle the increased vol- huge undertaking. Terminal 2’s renovations four people at once can be prepared to use ume of people instead of expanding the alone cost approximately ¥62 billion, the baggage screening lanes at the security duties of Terminal 2, but according to Hirata, required coordinated efforts from numerous check to shorten the whole process. This such a project would take 10 to 15 years, parties and left little room for error. will vastly reduce waiting times. We are missing the start of major events by at least “Construction could run a little longer here planning to implement 10 Smart Lanes total a decade. There are also concrete benefits and there, but the start of the major sport- at Terminal 2.” The airport will additionally to having domestic and international flights ing events are set in stone.” But if anyone utilize the One ID biometric identification operate out of the same building. “Before could do it, it’s Haneda Airport. After all, they system to help improve boarding times and now, the minimum transfer time between a have a history of doing a lot with a little. more. Demonstrative testing of this system domestic and international was 70 min- “Haneda is very compact. It’s very small,” will begin in June. utes. But thanks to having them both oper- Hirata said. That’s why Haneda will also be With Terminal 2 soon accommodating ate out of Terminal 2, that time will go down implementing the Fast Travel program to both domestic and international flights to only 55 minutes. It will also be easier to help traffic move more smoothly through from March 29, travelers should be aware have those transfers occur on the same the airport. that Haneda will have two international ter- day.” “One of the ways we’ll deal with lines and minals. It would be best to make sure of other issues is a self-baggage drop system one's correct terminal before heading to where people will automatically check their Haneda. bags themselves,” Hirata said. “Another way All double-confirmations aside, all future Haneda will fight congestion is the Smart passengers have to do now is enjoy these Lane, which is actually already operating in various upgrades.

From top left: Terminal 2’s new departure lobby at Haneda Airport; An aerial view of Terminal 3; The departure lobby at Terminal 3. Friday, March 20, 2020 | The Japan Times | B11 HANEDA AIRPORT

Above: Haneda connects floors four and five of Terminal 3 and is a replica of the famous landmark. Left: The fourth-floor Koji shopping street is modeled after a street in Edo, Tokyo’s former name. GOODBYE BORING LAYOVERS, HELLO INNOVATION

aneda Airport’s transformation into until 1868), expert builders and artistic con- rienced up close. Digital displays provide Terminal 3. While it would be unrealistic to an important hub for international sultants were brought in to help make the information on the complex ballet of machin- describe every single part of this vast H travel is bringing not only a more architecture as authentic as possible. This ery and technology going on below. endeavor, the complex is broadly divided into global array of travelers to the airport, but exquisite corner of the airport is not just for Outside of the airport the opportunities cutting-edge industries and cultural spheres. also creating a new segment of users — pas- looking, however. There are numerous shops for adventure are nearly endless, The former includes a medical research and sengers with long layovers for connecting selling wares both traditional and modern, as Haneda’s proximity to Tokyo proper. development base, mobility center for testing flights. well as a variety of restaurants offering Station, one of Tokyo’s major autonomous driving technologies and a con- Spending hours in an airport is likely not everything from sushi and sukiyaki to tem- transportation hubs, is less than 20 minutes ference and training center, with the latter on the top of most people’s travel wish list, pura and teishoku set meals. by train from Terminal 3. Stations along the having an Artist Village, 3,000-person capac- but thanks to recent and upcoming develop- The trip back into old Japan continues on way, such as Omorimachi or -Kamata, ity performance hall and an art and technol- ments, Haneda Airport can make a strong the fifth floor with the Haneda Nihonbashi provide opportunities for exploring typical ogy center. case that a layover here can be something to Bridge, a replica of the famous span in the neighborhoods where Tokyoites live, work Whether it is just for a few hours, an over- look forward to. mercantile district of old Edo; a display of and play. night stay or even a special trip out to Shop and eat, eat and shop: these are precious folding screens from the National Connected to a train stop next to Terminal Haneda to see all that has been built, there often the only two options for entertainment Museum of Japanese History and Festival 3 Station is Haneda Innovation City, an ambi- is something for everyone at the airport. at an airport. While Haneda offers plenty for Plaza, which is decorated to evoke the feel of tious project that is opening in part in July Expect the attractions to continue to grow the palate and a diverse array of souvenir a typical matsuri festival. 2020. HI City will feature an incredibly as Haneda Airport takes on an even more and duty-free shops, there is a of The fifth floor is as good a place as any to diverse array of functions and facilities on a vital role in global travel through Japan’s other options, from a planetarium and flight return to the 21st century. The Tiat Sky Road 5.9-hectare plot about a kilometer from . simulators, to a half-scale reproduction of a has a display of models of the airplanes that famous historical bridge and a commercial fly in and out of Haneda every day, as well as area built to resemble a samurai-era Tokyo four flight simulators for anyone curious street. about what it feels like to one of them. Travelers on overnight layovers will be Continuing on down Sky Road leads to the glad for the Royal Hotel, which is , where the sights, sounds directly connected to the airport’s Terminal 3 and smells of modern air travel can be expe- Left: At Planetarium (until recently called the international termi- Starry Cafe on the fifth nal), and offers free shuttles to terminals 1 floor of Terminal 3, and 2. In addition to comfortable guest diners can enjoy food rooms, a restaurant and bar, the Royal Park and beverages while also manages the Transit Hotel inside the gazing up at different international departure area, which has a projections of the night lounge and private rooms with and without sky. Far left: Visitors beds that can be paid for by the hour. can watch airplanes Edo Koji is only on the fourth floor of landing and taking off Terminal 3, but it is a world away from the from the Observation bustling modern transport hub. Modeled Deck on the fifth floor of after a typical street in Edo (Tokyo’s name Terminal 3.