Latest news with #KansaiInternationalAirport
Express Tribune
26-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Jam Kamal kicks off Japan visit to boost ties
Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan arrived in Japan on Monday, marking the start of a high-level official visit aimed at strengthening economic, trade and investment relations between Pakistan and Japan. The minister was received at the Kansai International Airport by Pakistan's economic minister, the director of Pakistan Pavilion Expo 2025 and the trade and investment counsellor, according to a press release issued by the commerce ministry. On Tuesday, the federal minister will lead Pakistan's representation at the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, beginning with a meeting with the leadership of the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition. Following the meeting, he will tour various national pavilions, with a special visit to the Pakistan pavilion, where he is expected to interact with officials and stakeholders promoting Pakistan's culture, investment potential and trade opportunities. The Pakistan pavilion showcases the country's emerging sectors, traditional crafts, tourism attractions and industrial strengths. The minister will also visit the pavilions of key regional and global partners. Jam Kamal is scheduled to address a press conference and attend a diplomatic dinner at the Expo Salon as well as engage in bilateral discussions with Japanese officials and business representatives. The federal minister's visit is expected to pave the way for deeper economic collaboration, new trade linkages and increased visibility of Pakistan's potential at international forums.
NHK
01-05-2025
- Business
- NHK
Japanese joint venture starts supplying aviation fuel made from used cooking oil
A Japanese joint venture company has begun supplying domestically produced sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF, as more airlines around the world use this type of fuel. A ceremony was held on Thursday at Kansai International Airport to mark the start of SAF distribution. The fuel is made from used cooking oil collected from restaurants across Japan. The joint venture of a major oil wholesaler and a major plant construction company produces SAF at a refinery in Sakai City in Osaka Prefecture. The venture firm plans to supply up to 30,000 kiloliters of SAF per year. Major airlines and other entities will mix a certain percentage of SAF with regular aviation fuel. The European Union began mandating the partial use of SAF this year as part of its decarbonization efforts. The Japanese government says used cooking oil from businesses such as restaurants amounts to about 400,000 tons per year. More than 90 percent of it is collected and mainly used as livestock feed and to make chemical products. Company officials say they hope to cut costs and stabilize the supply by expanding the collection of used cooking oil from businesses and including households in the recycling process. The senior vice president in charge of procurement for Japan Airlines, Ogawa Noriko, says the airline plans to have SAF account for 1 percent of its entire fuel use in 2025 and 10 percent in 2030. She adds that domestically produced aviation fuel is important from the perspective of energy security.
The Mainichi
23-04-2025
- The Mainichi
How did American tourist mistakenly bring gun into Japan despite airport screenings?
An American tourist in his 70s was recently arrested in Japan for possessing a handgun, which he had inadvertently brought with him in his suitcase along with ammunition. Though the case was later dropped, it begs the question: How did the firearm get through security checks at two airports? The man departed from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Hawaii March 21 with his wife in her 80s. They arrived at Kansai International Airport in Osaka Prefecture the following day and stayed at a nearby hotel. They planned to embark on a cruise from Kobe to visit various locations in Japan and Busan, South Korea. Their journey, however, was cut short after the discovery of the gun and three bullets the man had brought with him. Regularly carried pistol for self-defense The man found the handgun and ammunition in his suitcase when he opened it at the hotel, and reported it to cruise staff. After receiving the report via port officials, Hyogo Prefectural Police's Kobe Suijo Police Station arrested him on March 24 on suspicion of violating Japan's firearms and swords control law. He had thrown the ammunition into a cruise terminal trash bin, fearing harsher penalties if they were found with the gun. The man apparently carried the pistol on a regular basis for self-defense in the United States, keeping it in a leopard-print fabric pouch. This pouch was packed in his checked suitcase for the flight from Hawaii to Japan. During questioning, he reportedly told the prefectural police that he brought it by mistake and that he knew guns are regulated in Japan. Still, the question remains why the gun was not detected during security checks before his departure from Hawaii or upon his arrival in Japan. According to Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, countries that have ratified the Convention on International Civil Aviation set by the United Nations, including Japan, are required to conduct security checks before departure to prevent hijackings and other forms of terrorism. The bodies responsible for these checks vary by country, and in Japan, they are carried out by airlines or contracted security companies. Here, luggage is examined using X-rays and other methods to detect items that may explode, ignite or be used as weapons. Bringing dangerous items aboard an aircraft violates the Civil Aeronautics Act, and can be punished by up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 1 million yen (about $7,000). Security checks before flights As the United States has also ratified the convention, an official at Japan's transport ministry expressed confusion, saying, "Handguns should not be able to make it onto a Japan-bound aircraft." A U.S. Transportation Security Administration officer at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport expressed sympathy for the man who was arrested. According to them, items prohibited on flights are explained when passengers check in luggage at airline counters at airports in the U.S. The officer added that there must have been warnings since the man was traveling to a country like Japan where firearms are banned, and that he might not have declared it because he didn't realize the gun was in his luggage. The officer emphasized that all luggage is checked using X-rays and other means. But approximately 6,600 pistols are seized annually at U.S. airports, indicating that many reach security checkpoints. The man's case is an example of how firearms somehow go unnoticed. Professor Hajime Tozaki of J.F. Oberlin University, an expert on airport policies, commented, "Security checks before boarding flights are the are the most important, and the risk of hijacking and terrorism increases if they aren't thorough." He acknowledged that high volumes of luggage and insufficiently trained staff could lead to security oversights. Although pre-flight security has become stricter globally due to frequent terrorist incidents, inspection methods differ by country. The gun and ammunition may have evaded detection by being obscured among other items in the recent case. Security checks in Japan Can Japanese airport inspections miss firearms? Tozaki stated, "Since the plane arrived safely, there isn't much attention paid to dangerous items." At Kansai International Airport, where the man with the gun arrived, luggage inspections are conducted. However, according to Osaka Customs, the basic procedure for inspecting travelers from overseas involves verifying declared possessions. In some cases, X-ray screening or visual checks are performed, but apparently not all luggage is examined. A customs spokesperson acknowledged, "It's true that a handgun passed through Kansai airport, but we refrain from commenting on individual cases." Measures needed for a tourism-oriented nation Tozaki commented, "In this case, the man was unaware that he had brought a gun with him, and he probably didn't act suspiciously. Since it was not declared, it likely went unnoticed at Kansai airport." However, with global tensions rising due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip, he cautioned, "There is a significant possibility that intentional firearm smuggling could increase in the future. The question is how can we prevent it." Kansai International Airport plays a key role as the main gateway for international travelers visiting Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. As the airport is a crucial hub for Japan, which seeks to attract more inbound tourists, Tozaki stressed the need for heightened vigilance regarding the smuggling of dangerous items. He further stated, "Urgent measures may be necessary such as increasing the number of inspectors, with the national government providing financial support for these expenses. The recent case of the pistol should be recognized as an issue that affects Japan's reputation as it aims to become a tourism-oriented nation."
Hi Dubai
15-04-2025
- Business
- Hi Dubai
Emirates SkyCargo Launches First Direct Freighter Link Between Narita and Middle East
Emirates SkyCargo has launched a dedicated weekly freighter service to Narita International Airport (NRT), marking the first direct and scheduled freighter connection between Narita and the Middle East. The move expands the airline's freighter network to 38 destinations and reinforces its commitment to Japan, a long-standing priority market. Starting 24 May 2025, flight EK9413 will operate every Saturday, arriving at Narita at 01:00 AM UTC and departing for Dubai World Central at 03:00 AM UTC. The new route will offer 100 tonnes of cargo capacity each way, supporting the transport of high-value goods including automobile parts, semiconductors, machinery, and pharmaceuticals. Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President at Emirates SkyCargo, noted the strategic importance of the new link: 'This freighter empowers us to better support our customers in Japan with direct connectivity to and through Dubai, while unlocking capacity for larger and more complex shipments.' Japan's well-established manufacturing sector makes it a critical hub for global trade. Narita, the country's top cargo gateway by value, is undergoing major development to position itself as the region's leading cargo hub by the decade's end. Emirates SkyCargo already operates two weekly freighters to Kansai International Airport and provides bellyhold capacity on daily passenger flights to Tokyo. The addition of Narita strengthens its East and Southeast Asia footprint, where it currently operates 57 freighter flights and over 290 passenger services weekly. The launch coincides with the arrival of Emirates' next-generation Boeing 777 freighters, part of its 10-year strategic roadmap aimed at boosting global reach and capacity. News Source: Emirates News Agency
Associated Press
15-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Kansai International Airport's Populous Redesigned Terminal 1 Opens Ahead of World Expo 2025
KANSAI, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 15, 2025-- Kansai Airports and global design firm Populous have been working for more than seven years to completely reimagine the airport's floor plan, bringing a new level of efficiency and experience for travellers to Japan's west. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: KANSAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT'S POPULOUS REDESIGNED TERMINAL 1 OPENS AHEAD OF WORLD EXPO 2025. The final phase of the refurbished Kansai International Airport (KIX) Terminal 1 has opened on 27 March 2025 to accommodate the millions of passengers expected to pass through the iconic building to attend World Expo in Osaka. Kansai Airports and global design firm Populous have been working for more than seven years to completely reimagine the airport's floor plan, bringing a new level of efficiency and experience for travellers to Japan's west. Populous Senior Principal and Director, Brett Wightman, said the original Kansai International Airport (KIX) Terminal 1 wanted to make the best possible use of the existing infrastructure and maximize commercial return for Kansai Airports. 'Working closely with the facility operators, key stakeholders and end users, as well as expert retail and planning consultants, we have been able to craft a design that is built upon operational functionality, passenger convenience, accessibility and sustainability, while delivering innovative solutions that create an authentic and experiential environment with a clearly defined spirit of place,' Mr Wightman said. The new Terminal 1 includes a 60% increase in the size of the international departure lounge and retail offerings, the introduction of innovative retail layouts based on passenger experiences, and the creation of a seamless processing experience. PHASED RENOVATION TO ALLOW FOR CONTINUED OPERATIONS Populous led the architecture and interior design of the redevelopment, as well overseeing the project throughout construction. Mr Wightman said, importantly, the design considered operational functionality during renovation. The project has been completed in four phases to allow for continued operations of the airport, which is expected to accommodate more than 40 million passengers a year from 2025 and almost double international capacity. In October 2022, KIX opened the new Phase 1 domestic area followed by the new international area. Phase 2 of the project was completed in December 2023, and included 6,650 square meters of additional airside retail outlets, 1,130 square meters of food and beverage space and a new centralized immigration area. The Populous team and Kansai Airports completed Phase 3 on March 27, 2025, allowing the consolidation and extension of the security screening area to be ready before World Expo 2025 begins in April in Osaka. PHASE 3 – INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CHECKPOINT OPENS 27 MARCH 2025 Phase 3 includes faster, more comfortable and smoother security inspection with additional smart lanes capable of processing between 4,500 and 6,000 passengers an hour. The new queuing management system is the first of its kind in Japan, automatically controlling flapper gates to switch waiting lines by utilizing real-time passenger flow data. The system enables passengers to be automatically guided to the security inspection lanes based on the number of passengers and their flow. A new commercial area includes 13 stores across international departures, international arrivals and a street food court. The project has already been recognised for its architectural vision as a finalist in the 2023 World Architecture Festival Awards for Future Projects – Infrastructure. Originally designed by world renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano, the airport is considered an architectural icon. Regarded as part of the high-tech architecture movement of the 1990s, KIX's industrial design is famous for its asymmetrical clear-span sweeping aerofoil roofline. At 1.7km long, it is one of the longest airport passenger terminal buildings in the world. Principal Design Manager, Architect Jack Kato said the redesign had to respect the old while embracing new commercial opportunities for passengers. 'We broke away from the former gray color scheme, reinvigorating the interior spaces with a palette of natural materials to give the terminal a distinctly Japanese feel, but at the same time we opened up areas like the relocated immigration hall to provide an open space reflecting the original architecture and offering an inspiring arrival experience to start each journey,' Mr Kato said. 'This will transform the arrival experience of each journey into something inspirational.' View source version on CONTACT: Charlie Brooks [email protected] +44 7881268501 KEYWORD: AFRICA UNITED STATES JAPAN NORTH AMERICA ASIA PACIFIC EUROPE MIDDLE EAST CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: RETAIL ARCHITECTURE TRANSPORTATION DESTINATIONS TRAVEL COMMERCIAL BUILDING & REAL ESTATE RESTAURANT/BAR LUXURY CONSTRUCTION & PROPERTY AIR TRANSPORT LANDSCAPE FOOD/BEVERAGE INTERIOR DESIGN SOURCE: Populous Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 04/15/2025 05:00 AM/DISC: 04/15/2025 05:00 AM
