INTERVIEW: Sendai Airport Chief Confident 10 Years after Privatization

Natori, Miyagi Pref., June 29 (Jiji Press)–The chief of the operator of Sendai International Airport in Miyagi Prefecture, which was privatized a decade ago, has expressed confidence in making economic contributions to the Tohoku northeastern Japan region, including Miyagi. “I think we have come closer to the philosophy of the privatization, which is to bring economic benefits to Tohoku,” Sendai International Airport Co. President Motoi Maeda said in an interview. The interview took place ahead of the 10th anniversary Wednesday of the privatization of the airport in the Miyagi city of Natori, which neighbors the prefectural capital of Sendai. Sendai International Airport was the first to have been privatized among airports managed by the Japanese government. It is owned mainly by the Tokyu Corp. group, which runs a wide range of business such as passenger transport services and urban development. In fiscal 2025, the number of users of the airport reached a record high of about four million. The privatization was also aimed at supporting the reconstruction of Tohoku, which was heavily affected by the March 2011 powerful earthquake and tsunami. The airport incurred net losses from fiscal 2019 and fiscal 2022, partly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, but returned to the black in fiscal 2023 and enjoyed net profits also in the following two years. The number of passengers on international flights to and from the airport has tripled from the level just after the July 2016 privatization, thanks to an increase in inbound visitors to Japan. “We are seeing strong growth in the number of international passengers,” Maeda said. “We will step up our efforts,” he said, expressing his hope for an expansion in routes connecting Sendai International Airport with airports in other parts of East Asia and in Southeast Asia. Maeda said he aims for the reopening of two suspended routes of Air China–one to and from Shanghai and the other linking Sendai International Airport and Beijing via Dalian. Noting that China is a potentially profitable market, Maeda said he plans to make efforts so that more China routes will be opened. The Sendai airport operator is asking airlines in Southeast Asian nations to launch more routes to the airport, in addition to a route from Bangkok. The airport aims to boost total passenger traffic to 5.5 million in fiscal 2044 under the banner of becoming the gateway for Tohoku tours. “The ultimate challenge is to attract travelers to Miyagi and other parts of Tohoku,” Maeda said. The airport is strengthening overseas promotion in cooperation with prefectures in Tohoku. Cooperation beyond the boundaries of airport is necessary,” Maeda said. “We will do our best to encourage people to visit Tohoku again and again.” END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]