2012 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 002-011
Following the approval of a law by the Diet to integrate two airports (Kansai and Itami), an issue of integrating three airports (including Kobe) in Kansai has been advanced towards a solution. The aim of the law is improvement of the Kansai International Airport's performance, and fulfilling its expected role through the integration of the two airports. However, there is concern that the issue of integrating three airports cannot be solved if demand is not expanded significantly. It is therefore important, in the first stage, to review the impacts of the law that relies on PFI scheme to integrate two airports. Possible integration of three airports should be considered only in the next stage. Further, there may be many legal complications to include Kobe airport as the goal of such integration is to optimize the utilization of three airports in Kansai. As for execution by Union of Kansai Governments, it is similar. Under such circumstances, this paper points out key issues through legislative analysis.
