Latest news with #KansaiInternationalAirport
India.com
14-07-2025
- India.com
International airport with flights to 91 cities sinking in sea rapidly, airport is..., reason...
New Delhi: Japan's Kansai International Airport is currently facing a serious crisis. This airport, built on 2 artificial islands in the middle of Osaka Bay, is continuously sinking into the earth. The situation has become such that Japan has to take immediate steps so that the situation does not worsen. What is wrong with the airport's design? According to the report of The Straits Times, the surface of the island has gone down by 3.84 meters so far. Since the construction of the airport, it has sunk by a total of 13.6 meters. When this airport opened in 1994, it was seen as an excellent design floating on soft sea soil. However, in just 8 years it has gone down by about 12 meters. Why is it sinking so fast? The weight of the airport and the soft soil of the sea are not able to handle it. Now the rising sea level and natural changes are slowly taking it towards the depths of the sea, due to which its future is in danger. Kansai Airport has set a record of no baggage loss for more than 10 years so far. In 2024, it was declared the world's best luggage handling airport. During the 2018 typhoon Jebi, there was heavy flooding, and the airport had to be temporarily closed. Engineers are constantly working on stabilizing the airport. What do experts say? According to the latest data for 2024, an average annual descending of 6 centimeters has been recorded in the first part of the island while up to 21 centimeters in the second part. This airport still remains an international connection for 91 cities. Kansai International Airport is the primary international airport in the Greater Osaka Area of Japan and the closest international airport to the cities of Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe. It is located on an artificial island, Kankūjima in the middle of Osaka Bay off the Honshu shore.
The Mainichi
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Mainichi
Osaka-native SDF pilot makes dream come true in Blue Impulse flights over Expo site
OSAKA -- The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF)'s Blue Impulse aerobatics team showcased its aerial performances above areas around the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, venue July 12 and 13 after the original flight schedule in April on the Expo's opening day was canceled due to bad weather. One pilot in particular had special feelings about flying the jet as a Blue Impulse member. ASDF pilot Shoya Matsuura, 30, is from Suita, Osaka Prefecture, home to the iconic "Tower of the Sun," the symbol of the 1970 Osaka Expo. He saw the Blue Impulse team's performance about 15 years ago and decided to become a pilot. Making his childhood dream come true, Matsuura commented, "I've achieved a lifetime goal." The team took the same flight route on both days, taking off from Kansai International Airport around 2:40 p.m., passing landmarks such as Tsutenkaku Tower in Osaka's Naniwa Ward and Osaka Castle in Chuo Ward, before flying over the Tower of the Sun. From around 3 p.m., a 15-minute aerial display took place over the artificial island of Yumeshima, the Expo site. The aircraft emitted white smoke, creating heart shapes and the number "8," and performed aerobatic flights, including ascending in a widening spiral. "It was amazing," Matsuura said after the flight on July 12. Reflecting on flying over Suita, he commented, "I was happy to have the rare opportunity to see my hometown from the sky. I wondered if my friends were watching." Before boarding the aircraft on the second day, the team held a briefing where pilots reviewed weather conditions, the runway at Kansai International Airport, flight altitude, scheduled performances at the Expo site and the flight route. Matsuura smiled while confirming the timing for the smoke release. After successfully completing the momentous two-day stunt, Matsuura stated, "I hope there was a moment that moved the hearts of those who watched the flights. Flying over the area near the Tower of the Sun where I grew up was an unforgettable sight." (Japanese original by Tadakazu Nakamura, Izumisano Resident Bureau)
Daily Record
10-07-2025
- Daily Record
World's first airport built on artificial island is now sinking into the sea
The airport has won several awards but could now be at risk of going under. A busy airport in Asia which is build on an artificial island is reportedly sinking into the sea. Kansai International Airport (KIX), one of the busiest on the continent, opened in 1994 after 20 years of planning and massive seven years of building work. The world's first ocean airport in Osaka Bay, Japan, expands over an area of 1,260 acres on one island and 1,347 acres on a second. Despite being an engineering triumph, huge issues have been identified in recent years. According to reports, the airport is sinking into the soft clay foundation that it was built on and has been since it was constructed two decades ago. Since opening it has subsided by around 12.5 feet, and a second island during an expansion project has sunk by a shocking 57 feet. The sinking of the airport has raised alarms for its stability, especially as the subsidence has accelerated rapidly in recent years. The extreme weather conditions in the country and the rising sea levels also pose a significant threat to the airport. In 2018 western Japan was struck by Typhoon Jebi, reports the Express. The typhoon caused extensive damage to the airport, including flooding of the main terminal and the suspension of airport operations for multiple days. The extreme event highlighted the urgent need to work on the airport's foundation and infrastructure. Engineers have focused on a series of stabilisation measures designed to slow the sinking and reinforce the airport's structure. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The team has employed advanced technology and innovative construction techniques to monitor the subsidence at various points across the airport, including high-precision monitoring systems that provide real-time data on the rate of sinking and condition of the airport's foundations, reports Travel and Tour World. Strategies to reinforce the island's foundation are also in place, such as injecting materials into the ground to strengthen the soft clay base and prevent further sinking. While KIX's future may be threatened, it remains one of Asia's top airports. In 2020, Skytrax, an airline and airport review website, ranked Kansai the tenth-best airport in the world. It has also received awards for Best Airport Staff in Asia, World's Best Airport Staff, and World's Best Airport for Baggage Delivery.
News18
10-07-2025
- Climate
- News18
Japan's Kansai Airport Is Sinking Beneath Bay, Continues To Inch Lower Each Year: Report
Last Updated: Japan's Kansai International Airport has sunk over 17 metres since construction, more than initially expected, due to the soft clay foundation, a report has claimed. Japan's Kansai International Airport (KIX), built on a man-made island in Osaka Bay, is sinking. According to the South China Morning Post, while the airport has grown into a major hub for both domestic and international flights, it has already sunk into the clay layers beneath the bay more than engineers initially expected, and it continues to inch lower every year. The report quoted operator Kansai Airports and stated that the surface of the airport's first island is today about 3.84 metres (12.6 feet) lower than when it opened in 1994. Since landfill began for its construction, the airport has experienced an average settlement of 13.66 metres (45 inches), the report claimed. The operator is keen to point out that some 'settling" of the surface level was always expected. The average subsidence measured just 6cm (2.4 inches) across 17 points on the artificial island last year, according to the latest data released in December. The situation is somewhat worse at the second island, where the surface has fallen by 17.47 metres (57.3 feet) since the commencement of landfill work, and the average subsidence at 54 measurement points last year was 21cm (8.3 inches), according to the report. More than US$150 million has been spent on raising the sea walls surrounding the islands, but some engineers still predict that in the next 30 years, sections of the elevated airfield may be at sea level. The islands were constructed atop a 20-metre (65.6-foot) thick layer of alluvial clay, which acted like a sponge. The report also suggested that despite installing 2.2 million vertical pipe drains that were meant to solidify the clay and limit contraction, the weight of the landfill, including more than 200 million cubic metres (7.6 billion cubic feet) of debris and 48,000 tetrapods, has squeezed the clay more than anticipated. The challenges facing the airport became apparent in September 2018, when it had to be entirely shut down after being flooded by storm surges caused by Typhoon Jebi. The strongest typhoon to hit Japan in a quarter of a century caused US$13 billion in damage and led to 21 deaths across the Pacific, it mentioned. The report attributed to a statement on the operator's website, and stated that the rate of subsidence is lessening and it continues to monitor the foundations of the airport, including accumulating data on subsidence and seeking the advice of academics. Hiroo Ichikawa, a professor emeritus of urban planning and policy at Meiji University, said the sinking of the islands remained within acceptable levels and that the entire project had been a valuable learning experience for other similar man-made island plans. In the past, Japan's Kansai International Airport (KIX) has won international awards for its architectural design, efficiency and staff, and was recognised last year as the best airport in the world for baggage delivery after not mislaying a single item of luggage for a decade. Made up of two islands, one covering 510 hectares (1,260 acres) and the second over 1,055 hectares, the airport was built to ease overcrowding at the nearby Osaka International Airport and welcomed its first passenger flight in September 1994. view comments First Published: July 10, 2025, 13:10 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
NDTV
10-07-2025
- NDTV
Japan's Kansai Airport, Praised For Its Engineering Marvel, Is Now Sinking
The Kansai International Airport (KIX) in Japan, built on two artificial islands in Osaka Bay, was once hailed as an engineering marvel. It is currently sinking. Japan is taking immediate action to stop additional damage to the airport, which is experiencing continuous subsidence issues and sinking into the Osaka Bay. The surface of the island has dropped 3.84 metres, raising long-term questions regarding the sustainability and storm resistance of the airport, The Straits Times reported. Not just that, the project has sunk about 13.6 metres since the construction began in 1980. The airport was designed to float on soft seabed clay using sophisticated ground improvement techniques when it opened in 1994. However, early subsidence exceeded predictions, dropping about 12 meters in the first 8 years of operation. The airport's soft clay foundation is unable to sustain its enormous weight. Rising seas and natural forces are gradually drawing the engineering marvel closer to the depths, posing a threat to its very existence in future. Having maintained a perfect record of no lost luggage for over ten years, the airport was named the world's best airport for luggage handling in 2024. The Japanese airport was initially praised as a model of regional economic rivalry and a significant solution to overcrowding, aimed at reducing congestion at the nearby Osaka airport. Since then, KIX has expanded to accommodate both domestic and international travel, growing into an important aviation centre. KIX has also received international recognition for its staff, efficiency, and architectural design. Approximately 30.6 million passengers travelled to 91 cities in 25 countries in 2024, passing through its terminals. The 2018 Typhoon Jebi, which brought catastrophic flooding and highlighted the importance of addressing the sinking problem, made the airport's vulnerability evident. It was temporarily closed because of flooding brought on by the storm. Engineers are concentrating on stabilising the structure to stop additional damage and guarantee the airport's long-term sustainability. Operators have invested more than $150 million to strengthen seawalls and create vertical sand drains to alleviate water pressure from below in order to counteract the ongoing sinking. According to the most recent data, published in December 2024, the artificial island's average subsidence, as measured at 17 different locations, was only 6 cm. On the second island, however, the ground surface has fallen 17.47m since construction started. In 2024, the average subsidence at this island's 54 measuring locations was 21 cm.
