Japan’s Cabinet decided to increase the number of air traffic controllers at major Japanese airports by 14 starting from July 31, 2024, the country’s transport ministry announced on July 26, 2024. The country will also hire more new air traffic controllers than originally planned.
The measure is being implemented in response to the January 2024 Haneda Airport accident in which a JAL A350 landing from Sapporo collided with a Japan Coast Guard Dash 8 that entered the runway without having a clearance to do so.
Tokyo Haneda, Japan’s busiest airport, will see the number of traffic controllers increase by six. Two new controllers will also be stationed at Tokyo Narita, Osaka Kansai, Fukuoka, and Naha airports. Additionally, the number of air traffic controllers the ministry aims to hire in December 2024 has been increased from 28 to 40.
The decision comes amid Japan establishing a new air traffic control role dedicated to monitoring the radar for runway incursion warnings in an effort to prevent an accident like the one that happened this January from happening again.
