Oroku Aerodrome, an Imperial Japanese Navy airfield, opened in 1933. The base was taken over by the United States in 1945 and was renamed Naha Airport. Pan American World Airways and Northwest Orient began service to Naha in 1947. The airport was closed for refurbishment between 1952 and 1954. Japan Airlines began service to Okinawa during this time and initially used Kadena Air Base. Air America operated interisland flights to Miyako and Ishigaki from 1964 to 1967, when Southwest Airlines took over these routes. Okinawa was returned to Japan in 1972. In 1982, Naha Airport was transferred from US military control to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. The basic and detailed design engineering works in addition to the later construction management phase of the main passenger terminal were awarded in the 1990s in part to the Japan Branch of the American design-build engineering company, The Austin Company, which joined Japanese firms in a joint venture design consortium. Peach, a low-cost carrier based at Kansai International Airport in Osaka, announced that it would establish its second hub at Naha in July 2014, which would initially have flights to Osaka, Fukuoka, Ishigaki and Taipei. ANA Holdings, the parent company of both Peach and Vanilla Air, opened a new LCC terminal in a refurbished portion of the airport's cargo area in October 2012, and plans to open new international facilities in October 2014.
Development
The airport has been undergoing major development projects that will continue to transform the airport:
In 2008, the government agreed to significantly expand the domestic terminal, which will require the relocation of cargo facilities and the international terminal.
The construction of a second 2,700m parallel runway began on March 1, 2014, on 160 hectares of reclaimed land.
The new international terminal opened in February 2014. The international terminal is again being expanded and will grow by 3000m2 in November 2016. A new building connecting the domestic and international terminals is due to be completed in 2020 along with the 2nd runway.
In addition, a 6 lane for auto transport linking the airport with the Naha Port boosting the utility of the intermodal facility was completed in 2011. This tunnel will also link a 2.6 hectare Free Trade Zone near the Airport with another 122 hectare FTZ located at Nakagusuku Bay.
Terminals
Domestic Terminal - replaced former domestic terminal, extended to include LCCT, other extensions works to conclude in 2016.
Cargo Terminal - Former domestic terminal became the cargo terminal
LCCT Terminal - north annex of domestic terminal.
New International Terminal - replaced old international terminal
Airlines and destinations
Passenger
Cargo service
operates an overnight cargo hub at Naha Airport, which receives inbound Boeing 767 freighter flights from key destinations in Japan, China and Southeast Asia between 1 and 4 a.m., followed by return flights between 4 and 6 a.m., allowing overnight service between these regional hubs as well as onward connections to other ANA and partner carrier flights. The hub began operations in 2009; by 2013 it served eight cities, and ANA had chartered a Nippon Cargo AirlinesBoeing 747 freighter to handle demand on the trunk route from Narita International Airport.
Accidents and incidents
On December 11, 1994, Ramzi Yousef planted a bomb on Philippine Airlines Flight 434, which exploded while the flight was en route from Cebu to Tokyo, killing one passenger and injuring ten other passengers. The plane made an emergency landing at Naha Airport safely.
On August 20, 2007, China Airlines Flight 120, a Boeing 737-800, was taxiing to the ramp after landing when suddenly a fire started beneath the right wing, quickly engulfing the entire plane. All passengers and crew members were evacuated safely. Investigations later revealed that part of the slat drive mechanism pierced the fuel tank, and the leaking fuel ignited when it came into contact with hot engine parts.
