On May 30, 2024, Zenchiko, an association of regional airline operators, submitted a petition titled “Promotion of Regional Aviation Systems” to Japan’s transport ministry. The association is calling for a fairer slot allocation process at major airports in Japan and for opening up Yokota Air Base to civilian use to increase the overall capacity in the Tokyo area among other things.
The association is asking the ministry to consider increasing the number of sub-100-seat aircraft slots at slot-restricted airports, highlighting Tokyo Haneda and Fukuoka airports in particular.
At Haneda Airport, the association asking the government to expand “policy contest slots,” a system through which proposals for routes to regional airports that would not be sustainable through airline efforts only can be submitted. Currently, ANA’s routes to Tottori, Hagi-Iwami, and Odate-Noshiro, JAL’s to Yamagata and Misawa, and Skymark’s to Shimojishima operate under this system.
Additionally, Zenchiko wants the government to consider expanding overall airport capacity in the Tokyo area, suggesting opening Yokota Air Base in Fussa City, Tokyo, for civilian use as one of the possible options. At this point, Yokota Air Base is primarily used by the United States Air Force, with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force also having a presence.
At Fukuoka Airport, the association calls for the government to remove unavoidable cancelations from criteria used during slot allocation. It says that including factors such as cancelations caused by the lack of available aircraft due to weather-related issues on other routes and long-term planned cancelations due to heavy aircraft maintenance in the slot allocation process disadvantages regional airlines.
The petition also included several other points such as asking the government to:
- Globally raise awareness of low foreign visitor-only domestic fares in Japan
- Strengthen airports to be more resilient during earthquakes and other disasters
- Provide funding for maintaining and developing regional routes to remote islands and within the mainland
Zenchiko’s membership primarily consists of local governments. That said, in addition to over 50 prefectures and municipalities with regional airports, the association also boasts over 20 airlines and other companies, as well as industry organizations as supporting members. The association was established in 1983.
