Wakkanai Airport

Wakkanai Airport 稚内空港 Wakkanai Kūkō
IATA: WKJ – ICAO: RJCW
Summary
Airport type	Public
Operator	Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
Location	Wakkanai
Elevation AMSL	27 ft / 8 m
Coordinates	45°24′16″N 141°48′08″E / 45.40444°N 141.80222°ECoordinates: 45°24′16″N 141°48′08″E / 45.40444°N 141.80222°E
Website	http://www.wkj-airport.jp/
Map
RJCW Location in Japan
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 08/26 2,200 7,218 Asphalt
Statistics (2014)
Passengers 182,166 Cargo (metric tonnes) 217
Source: Japanese AIP at AIS Japan[1] Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (Japan) [2]

Wakkanai Airport (稚内空港 Wakkanai Kūkō) (IATA: WKJ, ICAO: RJCW) is an airport located 10 km (6.2 mi) east southeast^[1] of Wakkanai, Hokkaidō, Japan.

Wakkanai is the northernmost airport in Japan which is capable of handling jet aircraft; due to its small size, it is susceptible to closures during the coldest winter months, in which case incoming aircraft are often diverted to Asahikawa Airport. It has one jet bridge, one apron gate for mid-sized jet aircraft, and two apron gates for commuter aircraft.^[3][4]

History

Wakkanai Airport opened to passenger traffic in 1960, initially on an irregular basis. Air Nippon began scheduled service to Okadama Airport and Rishiri Airport in 1974, followed by Rebun Airport in 1978 and New Chitose Airport in 1980. Air Nippon discontinued the short Rebun and Rishiri commuter flights in 2003 due to poor load factors.

In 1987, the 1,200 m main runway was extended to 1,800 m, allowing All Nippon Airways to begin jet service to Tokyo. The flight was initially seasonal and did not become a year-round service until 1997. The city of Wakkanai provided subsidies for city residents to use the flight until 2005, when discounted fares became available.

As of 2015, ANA has two scheduled daily round trips to Sapporo using Bombardier Q400 turboprops, and one scheduled daily round trip to Tokyo (two from June to September) using Boeing 737 jets.^[5]

Airlines and destinations

Airlines	Destinations
All Nippon Airways	Tokyo-Haneda
All Nippon Airways operated by ANA Wings	Sapporo-Chitose

Ground transportation

The airport is located on Japan National Route 238 approx. 12 km from central Wakkanai. There is regular bus service to Wakkanai Station and Wakkanai Ferry Terminal, timed to coincide with ANA flight schedules.^[6]

Until 1989, the JNR Temboku Line passed by the airport; however, the airport did not have a station on the line except for one day in June 1987, when a temporary Higashi-Koetoi Station was opened to accommodate visitors to the airport's extended runway.^[7]

References

1. AIS Japan
2. "Wakkanai Airport Statistics" (PDF) (Press release). Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
3. "稚内空港のご案内". Wakkanai Airport Terminal. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
4. "稚内空港". Tokyo Regional Civil Aviation Bureau. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
5. "フライト情報". Wakkanai Airport Terminal. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
6. "空港連絡バス". 宗谷バス株式会社. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
7. ja:東声問駅

External links

• Wakkanai Airport Terminal (in Japanese)