This year’s ABACE once again brings together leading regional exhibitors seeking to promote Japan’s burgeoning business aviation sector.
Speaking to AIN before the event, Kazuyuki Tamura, vice chairman of the Japan Business Aviation Association (JBAA, Booth P825), said he was looking forward to participating in ABACE and showcasing Japan’s commitment to raising the profile of business aviation.
“The expectation and effectiveness to operate business jets in Japan is much stronger than before,” Tamura said. “Movements of international business aviation has been increasing every year and not only for metropolitan airports such as Narita and Haneda, but also for regional airports such as New Chitose.”
Though business aviation is still young in Japan with relatively few Japan-registered business aircraft in operation, both domestic and international movements have witnessed a steady upward trend.
According to Tamura, the total number of business aircraft movements recorded strong double-digit growth of 18.9 percent in 2017. Haneda increased by 10.5 percent and Narita rose by 5.1 percent. Meanwhile, regional airports excluding Haneda, Narita, Nagoya and Osaka saw a positive 36.5-percent growth.
To accommodate the increasing number of aircraft movements, Japanese officials have continued to make progress on several key initiatives in recent years.
“In 2017, New Chitose extended its operating hours to 24 hours a day while Toyama increased its operating hours from 7:30 to 19:00,” said Tamura.
Moreover, a dedicated business jet terminal at Kansai International Airport is expected to open in early June 2018. The new facility, equipped with full CIQ (customs, immigration and quarantine), will offer smoother processing as well as a high level of privacy to business jet travelers.
Meanwhile, for travelers flying into Haneda, Narita, Chubu Centrair, Kansai, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Kyusyu Saga, Naha, Sendai, New Chitose and Mt. Fuji Shizuoka, the permit lead time has been shortened to 24 hours.
Although all major and regional airports welcome business aviation, Japan is currently exploring strategies to increase efficiency and meet the high demand of business aviation during the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the Olympic/Paralympic games in 2020.
“Our government is trying to improve facilities such as increasing landing slots and spots, especially at Narita and Haneda and to implement measures for special facilities and to ease regulations,” Tamura said.
On hand to ensure a seamless travel experience is Universal Weather and Aviation and its ground support division Universal Aviation, which has an established presence in the Asia-Pacific region.
According to Hiroshi Higashiyama, managing director of the JBAA and representative director of Universal Aviation Japan, six airports–Haneda, Narita, Nagoya-Chubu, Nagoya-Komaki, Shizouka and Saga–all have dedicated facilities in place. Furthermore, improvements are on the horizon.
“At Nagoya-Chubu, an exclusive CIQ is pending,” Higashiyama said. “At Saga, the local government is arranging CIQ with a 24 hour pre-notice.”
Looking beyond Japan’s two high-profile sporting events, Sarah Kalmeta, Universal’s regional director of operations (who also sits on the board of AsBAA), predicted that Japan’s business aviation market will continue to grow at a steady pace, thanks to an influx of Chinese travelers.
‘’We have seen a growth in Chinese passenger traffic in Japan and, as a result, our Universal Aviation Japan team has hired several more native Chinese speakers who are based in all our main locations to help support our clients and VIP passengers,” Kalmeta said.
Universal’s presence at ABACE offers convention attendees an opportunity to further understand the region’s challenges.
“ABACE is a critical show for us because it allows us to bring in our experts from throughout the region to chat face-to-face with our clients about the issues that are adding risk to their missions—such as GA access issues in certain Asian destinations,” Kalmeta said. “Our commitment to supporting the business aviation industry is top priority.”
Convention attendees who want to know more about flying into Japan are invited to visit the Japanese team booths (P819/PP821/P823 and P825) and Universal Aviation’s booth (H1414).