Japanese airports report divergent passenger trends for 2026

Major Japanese airports reported contrasting passenger traffic data for late 2026. Narita International Airport saw robust growth in September, with total passengers reaching 3,431,977, a 102% increase compared to the previous year. Notably, Japanese international travelers rose by 112%, and foreign passenger numbers reached their second-highest level for the month of September on record.

In contrast, Kansai International Airport reported a 14% decline in total international and domestic passengers for the first half of fiscal year 2026 (April–September), totaling 14,940,284. This decline was driven largely by a 62% drop in passengers traveling to China. While Korean-bound traffic at Kansai grew by 23%, overall international passenger numbers fell by 14%.

Cargo performance remained a bright spot for both hubs. Narita reported a 105% increase in international air cargo volume, supported by steady demand for semiconductors. Kansai also saw a 10% increase in international cargo volume, reaching 422,972 tons.