New Commercial Flights Come to Iwakuni Kintaikyo Airport

28 March 2016

From Sgt. Antonio Rubio

IWAKUNI, Japan -- The Iwakuni Kintaikyo Airport Use Promotion Council and distinguished guests celebrated the addition of two new flights to the facility, March 27, 2016. The celebration included an Eisaa Okinawa Drum Demonstration, a Ryuky-Koku-Matsuri Daiko Drum performance and a ribbon cutting ceremony.

“We have a great expectation that the new flight route to Naha, Okinawa, along with one additional flight to Haneda, Tokyo, will promote local tourism and attract businesses and revitalize the local economy, not just in Iwakuni City, but in the area around here,” said Masashi Tohgu, Iwakuni City Tourism Promotion Section, Airport Use Facilitation Office.

The new flights to Naha and Haneda will not only benefit the local community and Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, but other military installations in the region as well.

“The addition of a flight to Okinawa allows not only personal recreation travel, but also provides another travel option for military personnel needing to conduct business on Okinawa,” said John Lackie, deputy director with the Defense Policy Review Initiative Integrated Program Management Office.

Iwakuni City officials requested these additional flights saying “the scheduled commercial aviation operations at Iwakuni Airport have been successfully operating, with the U.S. government’s cooperation and partnership, four round-trip flights per day since the local airport opened Dec. 13, 2012. Overall, the commercial aviation operations of the local airport have significantly contributed to the re-vitalization of the local area. Passenger usage, including U.S. government passenger usage, has been steadily increasing, and has met and is beginning to exceed the original demand forecast numbers set by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.”

Distinguished guests expressed their appreciation toward the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, MCAS Iwakuni and other organizations involved in the adoption of these new flights. The airport and additional flights will contribute to the exchange of people and culture among Iwakuni, Okinawa and other countries in the region.