Narita International Airport (IATA: NRT, ICAO: RJAA), also known as Tokyo Narita Airport and originally called New Tokyo International Airport, is the primary international gateway serving the Greater Tokyo Area. It is located approximately 60 kilometers east of central Tokyo, in Chiba Prefecture, straddling the city of Narita and the neighboring town of Shibayama. Before Narita opened, Tokyo International Airport (Haneda) was the main international airport. By the mid-1960s, Haneda faced serious capacity and noise issues as jet aircraft became common, prompting the Japanese government to search for a new airport site. The final location, announced in 1966, was in Sanrizuka and Shibayama, areas that included land owned by the Imperial Household. Despite controversy and local protests during its construction, Narita eventually opened and became a major international hub.
Today, Narita has two operational runways, with Runway A measuring around 4,000 meters and Runway B approximately 2,500 meters. A major expansion project is underway, extending Runway B by 1,000 meters and constructing a third runway, Runway C, at 3,500 meters. Once completed, expected by 2028–2029, these upgrades will increase the airport’s annual flight capacity from about 300,000 to 500,000 flights. The three existing terminals are also planned to be consolidated into a single, modern “One Terminal” facility.
Passenger traffic at Narita has been rising sharply. In March 2025, the airport handled 305,000 passengers, including over 200,000 international visitors, marking a record for the month. April saw more than 2.25 million foreign international passengers, followed by over 2.06 million in May and 1.849 million in June, setting new monthly records. For the first half of 2025, Narita processed 12.22 million foreign international passengers, the highest half-year total in its history. The airport’s cargo business is also growing, with international air cargo exceeding 171,000 tonnes as of June 2025.
Narita continues to serve private jets and executive aviation through its business and executive lounges, while managing arrivals and departures efficiently despite the high traffic. With these expansions and infrastructure improvements, Narita is positioned to strengthen its role as Japan’s key international gateway, accommodate rising tourism and cargo demand, and remain competitive among major Asian hubs.
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