Haneda Expanding International Flights

Above, duty free shops at Narita International Airport. The airport has everything for international
travelers, except snow-proof transportation to and from Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The hassle in trying to get into Tokyo from Narita International Airport due to a snowstorm last month exposed to me a big flaw with the airport's location. It is too far from Tokyo (about an hour away) and if a snowstorm can prevent travelers from getting into Tokyo in a timely manner, then alternatives must be explored. Besides buses, taxis and airport limousines, the above-ground trains are the only means of getting into and out of Narita International Airport. Even if a subway to Narita from, say, Ueno were to be built, it would take years before it is ready for passenger use.

Narita has been the prime airport for international flights to Tokyo. Until 2010, Haneda Airport in Tokyo was used only for domestic flights. All that has changed and recent expansions of Haneda (including new terminals and runways) are opening up slots for more international flights.

According to the Japan Times:

To counter cutthroat competition from hub airports elsewhere in Asia, Haneda airport will expand its international flight capacity Sunday when it takes the wraps off a more spacious terminal.  

The expansion is a serious move by Haneda, situated as it is in the heart of Tokyo. The terminal expansion is expected to spark competition with other Japanese airports, especially Narita International, and goad them into upgrading their services, experts say. 

 Unfortunately, there are still some limitations for flights to North America:

But the flights to Europe and North America were limited to night time so the daytime flights could be devoted to services in Asia, and to avoid allegations of unfair competition with Narita.

Personally, I wouldn't mind arriving in Tokyo during the night or at other odd times at Haneda. Unless airfares are competitive into Haneda from Los Angeles, I will continue to fly into Narita, but it might be prudent to avoid Narita during the winter months in the future due to possible snowstorms. Lesson learned.

To read the full Japan Times article, go here.