Japan To Cut Landing Fees By Y5bn To Help Airlines

TOKYO (Nikkei)--The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism said Tuesday that it will lower airport landing fees paid by airlines by a total of 5 billion yen from this July through next March.

Part of measures to help such struggling domestic carriers as Japan Airlines Corp., the reduction will apply only to domestic flights serving state-administered airports, such as the Haneda and Itami airports.

Landing fees paid to these airports are already 10-50% lower than usual. But with the new cut, the discount rate will be 25-67%. Now that airlines are pulling out of regional routes, the ministry hopes lower fees will help them maintain regional service.

Landing fees will not be cut for such major service as that from Itami to Haneda and from Fukuoka to Haneda.

The reduction will not affect Narita International Airport, Kansai International Airport and the Central Japan International Airport, because they are run by private companies.

(The Nikkei June 17 morning edition)