Typhoon-Hit Kansai Airport Terminals Reopen Fully

September 21, 2018

Izumisano, Osaka Pref.- Kansai International Airport in western Japan fully reopened its terminals on Friday, 17 days after the airport was flooded by a storm surge caused by a powerful typhoon.

The northern area of Terminal 1 reopened on the day after damaged electrical equipment there was repaired, following the Sept. 14 reopening of its southern area.

Terminal 2, which suffered less damage, returned to normal on Sept. 12.

A total of 469 domestic and international flights are scheduled at the airport in Osaka Prefecture on Friday, or 95 pct of the pre-typhoon level, according to its operator, Kansai Airports.

But passenger seat occupancy rates have not recovered fully for some flights.

"I hope to see travelers come to Osaka with a sense of security," said Yoshiyuki Yamaya, president of Kansai Airports.

Kansai International Airport is scheduled to host 34 international cargo flights on Friday, which is 71 pct of the level before the closure.

But the reopening of some storage facilities, including those for keeping pharmaceutical products at set temperatures, is not yet in sight.

Yamaya said the airport's cargo handling capacity is expected to recover to about 80 pct of the pre-disaster amount by the end of this month. But a full recovery may take some time.

The railway on the bridge connecting Kansai International Airport on an artificial island in Osaka Bay and the mainland returned to operations on Tuesday, two weeks after the typhoon caused a tanker to crash into the bridge on Sept. 4.

On Friday, the roads on the bridge were reopened to taxis and time restrictions for passage by trucks were lifted.

Private cars are still not allowed to use the roads, as work to repair the damaged bridge girders will not be completed until spring next year.

Celebrating the full terminal reopening, the Japan Ryokan & Hotel Association and others held an event for "okami" managers of "ryokan" Japanese-style inns and "maiko" entertainers to greet tourists at the arrival lobby for international flights.

"I'm glad that Kansai International Airport reopened because it's comfortable and convenient," said a 27-year-old teacher who arrived on a family trip from South Korea. Jiji Press