Japanese airports Okayama and Kobe announce major international expansion plans

Major Japanese airports in Okayama and Kobe are initiating expansion projects to bolster international flight capabilities and accommodate rising passenger demand.

Okayama Prefecture has announced a plan to expand the passenger terminal at Okayama Airport. The project includes adding approximately 7,000 square meters to the existing facility to allow two international flights to arrive or depart simultaneously. The expansion will feature enhanced check-in areas, departure and arrival lobbies, and security checkpoints, including the potential introduction of smart lanes. The project, estimated to cost between 28 billion and 32 billion yen, is scheduled to begin basic design in fiscal 2026, with construction starting in 2028 and completion targeted for 2032.

In Kobe, the city has selected the Gyros Hata Sekkei Consortium to assist in formulating a basic plan for expanding Kobe Airport. The goal is to prepare the facility for regular international scheduled flights by April 2030. Unlike the recently opened second terminal which relied on bus boarding, the new expansion plan will prioritize the use of passenger boarding bridges (PBB) to improve efficiency and passenger comfort. This development aligns with the ‘Kobe 2030 Vision’ to increase annual airport users to 7 million, up from 3.61 million in 2024.