New Ishigaki Airport

New Ishigaki Airport (新石垣空港, Shin-Ishigaki Kūkō), (IATA: ISG, ICAO: ROIG), also branded as Painushima Ishigaki Airport (南ぬ島石垣空港, Painushima Ishigaki Kūkō, "Southern Island Ishigaki Airport"),[Note 1][1][4] is a regional airport located in the Shiraho district of Ishigaki, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The airport is located near the eastern coast of Ishigaki Island. It connects the island to major cities in Japan as well as destinations throughout Okinawa Prefecture and the Yaeyama Islands. New Ishigaki Airport was built to replace Ishigaki Airport, which with a shorter runway of only 1,500 metres (4,900 ft), could not accommodate larger jets.

New Ishigaki Airport

新石垣空港

Shin-Ishigaki Kūkō
Summary
OperatorCity of Ishigaki, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan[1]
ServesIshigaki
Yaeyama Islands
Location1960-104-1 Shiraho, Ishigaki, Okinawa, Japan
Elevation AMSL102 ft / 31 m
Coordinates24°23′47″N 124°14′42″E
Websitewww.ishigaki-airport.co.jp/en/index.html (in English)
www.ishigaki-airport.co.jp (in Japanese)
Map
ROIG
ROIG
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
04/22 2,000 6,562 Asphalt/Concrete
Statistics (2015)
Passengers (2016)2,421,529[2]
Cargo (metric tonnes)18,690
Aircraft movement24,834

Operations at [old] Ishigaki Airport ceased at midnight on March 6, 2013, and New Ishigaki Airport opened on March 7, 2013.[5]

Location
Aerial view of New Ishigaki Airport

New Ishigaki Airport is located on the eastern shore of Ishigaki Island (221 square kilometres (85 sq mi)).[6] The island is located approximately 430 kilometres (270 mi) southwest of Okinawa Island. The Yaeyama Islands were traditionally controlled from the southern district of the island, and remains the chief island of the group.

The airport serves as a transportation hub for the surrounding Miyako, Yonaguni, Hateruma, and Tarama islands. The airport additionally connects Ishigaki to Tokyo (via Haneda Airport), Nagoya, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Fukuoka.[7][8] Ishigaki is only a 40-minute flight from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) in Taiwan.[9] Ishigaki currently hosts seasonal flights to Taiwan.

New Ishigaki Airport sits 31 metres (102 ft) above sea level in the Shiraho district of Ishigaki.[7] The airport is located approximately 30 minutes by car from central Ishigaki City (i.e., Ishigaki Harbor).[10]

Facilities

New Ishigaki Airport covers 143 hectares (350 acres).[11] It consists of a single runway, 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) in length and 45 metres (148 ft) in width. The airport has a single terminal with a total floor space of 12,560 square metres (135,200 sq ft). The first floor of the terminal is used for check-in and baggage claim. The second floor is used as an entrance, the third floor for facilities management, and the fourth floor as an observation deck.[12] New Ishigaki Airport operates 11 hours a day, between 8 am and 7 pm.[11]

Administration

Under the Airport Law of 1956 New Ishigaki Airport was originally classified as a Regional Airport (the old airport was classified as Third Class airport). According to a September 4, 2013, front-page article in the Yaeyama Mainichi Shinbun (one of the newspapers in Ishigaki), the airport is now classified as an International Airport, which means that Taiwanese carriers will change from a system of providing what they call "regular charter flights" to offering regular scheduled flights.[13]

New Ishigaki Airport was constructed by government of Okinawa Prefecture at a cost of 45.1 trillion yen and is now owned and operated by the City of Ishigaki. The airport has 24 tenants, mainly locally operated restaurants and souvenir shops.[1]

History
Construction site of New Ishigaki Airport, 2009

New Ishigaki Airport replaces Ishigaki Airport, which was originally built during World War II as a military airstrip by the Imperial Japanese Army.[Note 2][12][11] Korean laborers were used for the construction of the military airstrip.[14] The airstrip was built in the Maezato and Ōhama districts of Ishigaki, and opened in September 1942. The airstrip was used for the deployment of kamikaze units to attack American ships anchored off Okinawa Island during the Battle of Okinawa.[15]

After World War II the airstrip was repaired, and eventually converted to joint civilian/military use in 1956, and commercial flights to Ishigaki began on June 16 of that year.[7][14][16] The new airport was built to replace Ishigaki Airport, which had a runway of only 1,500 metres (4,900 ft), and could generally accommodate small jets, typically a 150-passenger Boeing 737.[7] The initial plan called for an airport to be built on extensive landfill off the eastern shore of the island in the Shiraho district. Plans for a new airport on the Ishigaki Island date back to 1979.[9]

Residents of Shiraho opposed the construction of New Ishigaki Airport, among other reasons, due to concerns about the destruction of the Shiraho Coral Reef. The 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) reef is home to over 120 species of coral, and is one of the most diverse coral reefs in Japan, and is named as one of the "Global 200" coral reefs by the World Wildlife Fund. The Shiraho district and its reef is protected as part of Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park (205.69 square kilometres (79.42 sq mi)), which covers both the land and marine areas of much of the Yaeyama Islands. The Shiraho reef is particularly vulnerable to destruction by red clay discharged from small rivers and other discharge from Ishigaki Island. This plan was abandoned in 1989.[17]

A second plan, which was ultimately adopted, called for the airport to be built inland from the coast, using both agricultural land and excavating a section from Karadake, a prominent 135.9 metres (446 ft) hill on the relatively flat landscape of Ishigaki Island. Construction on the new airport started in 2006 with the excavation of Karadake. 270,000 ha² of soil from Karadake were removed, significantly changing the appearance of the landscape of Shiraho. The excavation of Karadake posed a continuing threat to the Shiraho coral reef. The hill is composed of red clay, and discharge of soil from the excavation presented a serious threat of destruction of the reef.[9][18]

Human remains, now known as the Shiraho Saonetabaru Cave Ruins, were discovered at the site shortly after construction began on the airport. Bones from human heads, feet, arms were found and dated to the Paleolithic Age, and are approximately 24,000 years old.[19][20][21] The remains may be the oldest human remains found in Japan. Work at the archaeological site ended with the opening of the airport in 2013.[19][20][21]

As a promotion prior to the opening of the airport and the locally produced Ishigaki beef, a giant kebab was constructed on the construction area of the new airport. Assembly of the kebab required the effort of 1,700 residents and tourists, and ultimately measured 107.6 metres (353 ft) in length. The kebab was certified a Guinness World Record, beating out the former record-holder constructed in Lebanon.[22][23]

New Ishigaki Airport is designated a Regional Airport (地方管理空港, Chihō Kanri Kūkō) under the Airport Law of Japan.[11] An opening ceremony for the airport was held on March 2, 2013.[5] Operations at Ishigaki Airport ceased at midnight on March 6, 2013, and airport equipment such as luggage carts and handling equipment were trucked across the island overnight. New Ishigaki Airport officially started operations at 12 a.m., March 7, 2013.[10][16]

Airlines and destinations

Passenger
AirlinesDestinations
All Nippon Airways Nagoya–Centrair, Osaka–Kansai, Tokyo–Haneda
Seasonal: Fukuoka
All Nippon Airways
operated by ANA Wings 		Miyako, Naha
China Airlines Seasonal: Taipei–Taoyuan
HK Express Hong Kong[24]
Japan Airlines
operated by Japan Transocean Air 		Osaka–Kansai, Naha, Tokyo–Haneda
Japan Airlines
operated by Ryukyu Air Commuter 		Miyako, Naha, Yonaguni
Peach Osaka–Kansai, Tokyo–Narita
Solaseed Air Naha

Ground Transportation

New Ishigaki Airport is connected to other areas of Ishigaki Island by bus and taxi. Ishigaki is served by the Azuma Bus Company.[25] Additionally, a rental car service is available at the airport.[26] The airport sits along Okinawa Prefectural Route 39, which crosses the eastern and southern coast of the island.[27]

Notes
  1. The phrase "pai nu" comes from the Yaeyama language.
  2. Some sources date the completion of the military airstrip to 1942, others to 1943.

References
  1. "新石垣空港で飛行検査開始－21日に初の離着陸テストも - 石垣経済新聞". Ishigaki.keizai.biz. Retrieved 2013-08-14.
  2. http://airport.tokyu-agc.co.jp/airport_1_1.html
  3. "Ishigaki Airport" (PDF). Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 October 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  4. "新石垣空港で大塚勝久さん写真展－八重山の自然と人が織り成す「原風景」捉える - 石垣経済新聞". Ishigaki.keizai.biz. Retrieved 2013-08-14.
  5. Ealey, Mark (7 Mar 2013). "New Ishigaki Airport holds opening ceremony". Ryukyu Shimpo. Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan: Ryukyu Shimpo. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  6. "Ishigakijima". Encyclopedia of Japan. Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2013. OCLC 56431036. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  7. 空港の概要課 [New Ishigaki Airport Section] (in Japanese). Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan: Airport Division, Okinawa Prefecture. 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-08.
  8. "New Ishigaki Airport in Okinawa Pref. opens". Kyodo News. Tokyo, Japan: Kyodo News. 7 Mar 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-08.
  9. "New Ishigaki Airport starts business operations today". Japan Update. Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan: Ryukyu Press. 7 Mar 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-08.
  10. "The opening and the relocation of New Ishigaki Airport" (in Japanese). Tokyo, Japan: JAL. 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-08.
  11. 新石垣空港 [New Ishigaki Airport] (PDF) (in Japanese). Tokyo: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport. 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-19.
  12. 空港の概要 [Airport Overview] (in Japanese). Ishigaki, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan: Ishigaki Air Terminal Co., Ltd. 2013. Retrieved 2013-02-08.
  13. http://www.y-mainichi.co.jp:8000/news/23215/ きょうから定期便に　正式な国際空港へ Yaeyama Mainichi Shinbun (in Japanese)
  14. "石垣空港" [Ishigaki Airport]. Nihon Rekishi Chimei Taikei (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2013. OCLC 173191044. dlc 2009238904. Archived from the original on 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2013-03-13.
  15. Feifer, George (1992). Tennozan : the Battle of Okinawa and the atomic bomb. New York: Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 978-0-395-70066-2.
  16. 石垣空港、きょう最後の運航　航空各社、お別れイベント企画. Yaeyama Mainichi Shinbun (in Japanese). Ishigaki, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan: Mainichi Shinbun. 6 Mar 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-13.
  17. 「しらほサンゴ村」とは [What is the "Shiraho Sango Village"?] (in Japanese). Ishigaki, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan: Shiraho Sango Village. 2013. Retrieved 2013-02-08.
  18. カラ岳の一部を切削　新石垣空港. Yaeyama Mainichi Shinbun (in Japanese). Ishigaki, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan: Mainichi Shinbun. 22 Sep 2009. Retrieved 2013-03-13.
  19. あごなど人骨数十点発掘　白保竿根田原洞穴 [A jawbone and ca. ten other human bones found at Shiraho Saonetabaru Cave Ruins]. Yaeyama Mainichi Shinbun (in Japanese). Ishigaki, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan: Mainichi Shinbun. 8 Feb 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  20. 県、洞穴現地保存へ　新石垣空港内の白保竿根田原遺跡 [Prefecture to preserve cave site: the Shiraho Saonetabaru Cave Ruins at New Ishigaki Airport]. Ryukyu Shimpo (in Japanese). Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan: Ryukyu Shimpo. 2 Mar 2013. Archived from the original on 23 May 2015. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  21. 石器使わなかった旧石器人？　石垣島・白保竿根田原洞穴 [Stone-age humans who didn't use stone tools? Ishigaki Island Shiraho Saonetabaru Cave Ruins]. Asahi Shinbun (in Japanese). Tokyo, Japan: Asahi Shimbun Company Shinbun. 6 Nov 2011. Retrieved 2013-04-01.
  22. 世界最長の串焼きに挑戦　沖縄、１００メートル超え [World's longest kebab in Okinawa is over 100 m long]. 47 News (in Japanese). Tokyo, Japan: Press Net Japan Co., Ltd. 27 Nov 2011. Retrieved 2013-03-08.
  23. 石垣牛串焼き、長さ世界一に－107.6メートル、ギネス認定 [Ishigaki beef kebab, longest in the world at 107 meters, Guinness record holder]. Ishigaki Keizai Shimbun (in Japanese). Ishigaki, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan: Minami Jūjisei FM. 27 Nov 2011. Retrieved 28 Nov 2011.
  24. "HK Express Adds 3 New Routes to Japan in S16". airlineroute. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  25. 東運輸株式会社 [Azuma Bus Co., Ltd.] (in Japanese). Ishigaki, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan: Azuma Bus Co., Ltd. 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-08.
  26. 新石垣空港へのアクセス [Ground Access to New Ishigaki Airport] (in Japanese). City of Ishigaki, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan: City of Ishigaki. 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-08.
  27. Okinawa Rekishi Kenkyukai, ed. (1994). 沖縄の歴史散歩 [History walk of Okinawa]. Shin zenkoku rekishi sanposhiizu (in Japanese). 47 (Shinpan ed.). Tokyo: Yamaka Shuppansha. p. 172. ISBN 978-4-6342-9470-7. OCLC 31267327.
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