Kobe Airport has recently released its usage statistics for the year 2024 (January to December). The number of passengers reached approximately 3.57 million, showing a 4% increase compared to the previous year, marking the first time it has surpassed 3.5 million since its opening.
Operated by Kansai Airports, which manages Kobe Airport among others, the combined takeoffs and landings at Kansai International Airport, Osaka International Airport (Itami Airport), and Kobe Airport totaled 363,720 flights in 2024, reflecting a 10% increase from the previous year. While domestic flights saw a 2% decrease, international flights experienced a significant 36% increase, indicating a positive trend towards recovery from the global pandemic-induced decline.
In terms of flight operations at individual airports, both Itami and Kobe showed slight decreases compared to the previous year, while Kansai International Airport saw a notable 23% increase. Particularly in international passenger numbers at Kansai Airport, the count of foreign travelers reached a record high of 18.92 million in a calendar year.
Examining the passenger traffic trends at Kobe Airport, after recording around 3.36 million passengers in 2019, the numbers sharply declined to the range of around 1.62 million in 2020 and 2021. However, there has been a gradual recovery since 2022, with a record high of approximately 3.43 million passengers in 2023. The year 2024 set a new record with around 3.57 million passengers.
Looking ahead, Kobe Airport is set to lift the ban on “international charter flights” starting from April 2025. Already confirmed routes to South Korea, Vietnam, and Taiwan, along with discussions of over 10 airlines expressing interest in launching flights primarily to Asian destinations, paint a promising future for the airport.
Ramesh Khatri, representing Kansai Nepal News, sees the continued growth and upcoming international flights at Kobe Airport as a positive sign for the region’s tourism industry. He believes that these developments will contribute to boosting the number of visitors to Japan and potentially lead to a new record in passenger numbers for 2025.
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Author: MAYA | HARUTO
Posted at: January 30, 2025 12:03 am