07 Sep 2018 | 04:16 AM UTC
Japan: Kansai (KIX) resumes 19 domestic flights, Terminal 1 closed Sept. 7 /update 7
Kansai International Airport (Osaka) resumes 19 domestic flights on September 7; Terminal 1 remains closed, forcing cancelation of majority of domestic and all international flights
Event
Kansai International Airport (KIX) resumed some domestic flights beginning at 11:50 (local time) on Friday, September 7. Peach Aviation and Japan Airways scheduled a total of 19 flights for Friday using Terminal 2 and Runway B. Terminal 1 and its associated runway remain heavily damaged from wind and flooding, forcing the cancelation of the remainder of the nearly 300 daily flights, including all international service. Nearby Osaka International Airport (ITM), also called Itami Airport, and Kobe Airport (UKB) are operational. The bridge connecting the airport to the mainland remains damaged and closed to train and private traffic, though shuttle buses to Nankai Electric and West Japan line train stations are using undamaged lanes. Travelers are also able to use a ferry from Kobe Airport. Airport officials do not have a prediction for when Kansai will be able to resume international flights, though a full restoration of the airport is expected to take several months.
Context
Kansai airport closed following the arrival of Typhoon Jebi on Tuesday, September 4, which resulted in flooding of the main runway, the basement of a terminal, and several service buildings. The storm also pushed an empty oil tanker into the causeway that connects the airport to the mainland, causing damage to the bridge and stranding at least 3000 passengers until Wednesday, September 5.
Typhoon Jebi made landfall east of Kobe in Hyogo prefecture on Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of at least 12 people and injuring more than 470 others. The typhoon was reportedly the strongest storm since 1993 and brought sustained winds of 160 km/h (100 mph) to the island, causing widespread damage, flooding, and power outages to 1.5 million people.
Advice
Individuals traveling via KIX in the near-term are advised to monitor developments to the situation, verify the status of their flights prior to departure to the airport, and allow for additional transit time to and from the airport. Individuals in the abovementioned areas are advised to monitor local weather reports, anticipate transportation and power disruptions, obey instructions issued by the local authorities, and avoid flood-prone areas until the situation stabilizes.
