Work on Terminal 3 at Tokyo Narita International Airport is currently underway, with plans to have the new low-cost carrier (LCC) facility up and running by April 8.
Costing 13 billion Japanese yen (about $US109 million), the new 66,000sqm facility is located 500 metres north of Terminal 2. It consists of one main building and a satellite terminal for international and domestic flights respectively, providing ten gates in total. These two boarding areas are linked by a 15-metre skybridge over the airfield.
The whole terminal is designed to cap fees for LCCs, meaning the facilities are more basic than at the other terminals. For example, portable boarding ramps will be used for passengers to walk onto the plane, rather than building boarding bridges at the terminal.
The main building has four floors. Level 4 is the bridge to the satellite; Level 3 is the international departure concourse, consisting of the outbound immigration counters and a duty-free shopping area; Level 2 is mainly for departure, including the departure gates, security inspection, retail shops and a food court, but the inbound immigration counters are also located on this floor; Level 1 is the arrival hall and baggage claim area.
There are two floors in the satellite building, with levels 1 and 2 for domestic arrival and departure respectively.
Departure area, main building
The LCCs confirmed to move their operations to the new terminal ready for the April launch include Jetstar Japan, Vanilla Air and Spring Airlines Japan. Other airlines that will move in gradually are Peach Aviation, Jetstar airways, Air Busan, Easter Jet, Scoot, Jeju Air, Cebu Pacific Air, Thai Air Asia X, Air Asia X and Hong Kong Express Airways.
According to airport statistics, LCCs have been rapidly increasing their services at Narita in recent years. The ratio of low-cost services to aircraft movement jumped from 6.1 per cent in 2012 to 19.3 per cent last year. (Click here to read an article on the latest developments in budget air travel around the region in Business Traveller Asia-Pacific’s December issue. To subscribe, click here).
The airport authority predicts that the new terminal will handle up to 10,000 takeoffs and landings annually, and up to 7.5 million travellers.
Retail facilities will be a primary focus in the new terminal, with the aim of creating a casual, relaxed atmosphere. Terminal 3 will have 26 shops as well as food and beverage outlets. The food court will be the largest at any airport in Japan, providing more than 400 seats. It will feature seven food outlets, including noodle shops Miyatake Sanuki Udon and Ringer Hut, and Tatsu Sushi – a standing sushi bar.
There will be a 24-hour convenience store Lawson, particularly useful for customers taking early morning and late night flights. The duty-free area, Fa-So-La Duty Free, will be the largest duty-free shop at Narita Airport.
Food court
Duty-free area
All tables and chairs are made of solid natural wood and large relaxation sofa benches have been designed under the supervision of Mr. Naoto Fukasawa, a product designer who serves on the Muji advisory board.
For more information, visit narita-airport.jp/en
Valerian Ho
