History Kobe Airport

kobe airport (bottom) under construction in 2003

the construction of airport stalled lack of funding until 1995, when won national government support means recovering kobe economy in wake of great hanshin earthquake. despite ongoing controversy, locals continued support plan: in 1997 mayoral election, pro-airport coalition won narrow victory on anti-airport coalition. construction began in september 1999 political controversy continued: 87,000 signatures collected in petition recall mayor in 2000, , citizen lawsuit cancel project dismissed in 2004.

the airport opened on february 16, 2006, japan airlines operating first flight , nippon airways operating first scheduled flight. both ana , jal announced plans replace portions of widebody fleet larger number of mid-size aircraft, in part because of need fill excess number of flight slots created kobe airport s construction. airport handled first international private aircraft flight in september 2006.

as part of bankruptcy restructuring, jal terminated services out of kobe , closed office on june 1, 2010, in response skymark airlines announced major expansion @ airport. ana cut services following airport s opening. skymark dominant carrier @ kobe carrying approximately two-thirds of passengers.

in 2013, kobe mayor tatsuo yada endorsed proposal consolidate management of 3 kansai region airports adding kobe airport planned sale in 2014 of operating concessions @ itami , kansai, although nihon keizai shimbun reported unlikely given advanced state of negotiations surrounding concessions.

kobe indebted municipality in japan debts of on ¥3 trillion, , project s cost (estimated @ on ¥1 trillion, or $8.7 billion) has made controversial. supporters argue third airport can mean increased competition , lower airfares. people in surrounding regions (shikoku, awaji island etc.) can have closer airport while access kansai may limited. since ferry tokushima kansai airport discontinued, travellers have had rely on alternate means of transportation including bus kansai airport, takes hour longer, or use local tokushima airport, limited in schedules.