Aichi Gov. Hideaki Omura speaks at a press conference at the prefectural government building in Nagoya on Dec. 13, 2021. (Kyodo)

       NAGOYA (Kyodo) -- Chubu international airport in central Japan will start building a second runway and undertake extensive maintenance of the existing one once the new runway is completed in about five years, Aichi Gov. Hideaki Omura said Monday.

       The airport's capacity for plane departures and arrivals will increase by 20 percent from the current level when the two runways start operating together, Omura told a news conference in Nagoya.

       The existing 3,500-meter runway was built in 2005 when the airport in Tokoname south of Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture opened as a major hub between Tokyo and Osaka but needs repairs due to aging.

       The new 3,290-meter runway will be created by renovating a taxiway located about 210 meters east of the existing runway.

       The new runway will be used for departures, while the existing one will receive arrivals.

       The construction of the new runway is expected to cost about 14 billion yen ($123.3 million) and shouldered by the airport's operating company. However, Omura said, "The central and the prefectural governments will provide financial support indirectly."

       Local governments and businesses had initially hoped to construct the second runway on land that will be reclaimed near the airport. But the policy was shifted after it was estimated that the reclamation work would take about 15 years.

       While Omura said he would like to wait for air transportation demand to improve following the coronavirus pandemic, he indicated that the airport might build another 3,500-meter runway once the landfill project is complete.

       If constructed, the third runway will replace the existing 3,500-meter lane.

       The airport has two terminals, including one dedicated to low-cost carriers that opened in September 2019.

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