Update Kumamoto Airport;: April 20, Resumes Operations Partially

On April 19, small number of departing flight resumed at Kumamoto Airport where severe earthquakes struck in series since last Thursday.

One of departing flights bound for Nagoya had its check in and all procedures under the sky as the terminal building is still closed.

On April 20, some 30 flights will be arriving to Kumamoto from Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya by Japan Airlines and ANA.

The terminal building, later, restarted its business only partially on Tuesday.

Kumamoto Airport Resumes Operations of Arriving Flights On April 19

Kumamoto Airport, with its terminal buildings were damaged by previous earthquakes, has resumed flight services from today, for only fewer arriving flights from Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya.

All of departing flights from the airport are still cancelled as baggage security check cannot be performed inside the damaged buildings.

The airport is closer to the epicenter of the first major earthquake of April 14 and severely damaged including collapse of the ceiling inside the building.

Kumamoto and Oita region are  still under the pressure of continuing earthquakes numbered over 500 since the previous week and over 100,000 residents are accommodated inside refugee camps.

Update Advisory: Kumamoto Airport Closed

As of Monday April 18, Kumamoto Airport still has suspended all of commercial flights but open for emergency air lift operations on 24-hour basis. 

Relief supplies are being flown to Kumamoto but due to destructed land transportation paths, it is very hard to be delivered to all refugee residents, reportedly over 100,000 staying out of their homes.


Over 500 times of earthquakes have been counted since the first major quake on April 14.

Update: Kumamoto Airport Closed on April 17

All flights to and from Kumamoto Airport are cancelled on Sunday, April 17, too.

Kumamoto and its vicinity are still having frequent earthquakes of major scale over the days. At present there is no sign of getting back to normal conditions.

Kumamoto Airport Closed by Earthquakes

Terminal building at Kumamoto International Airport （IATA: KMJ - ICAO: RJFT) has been closed since early morning of Saturday, April 16. A large-scale earthquake in the midnight of Saturday damaged the buildings by collapsing the ceilings. All flights at Kumamoto Airport are cancelled on April 16.

1. The midnight earthquake was recorded 7 by Richter's scale and surpassed the previous one at 9:26 pm (JST) on April 14.
2. Japan Airlines cancelled all of 24 flights while ANA cancelled all of its 32 flights on April 16. Solaseed Air, Kyushu-based low cost carrier, cancelled its 10 flights bound for Haneda-Tokyo. Other airlines include Jetstar Japan for two flights to Narita, Fuji Dream Airlines (6 flights to Komaki-Nagoya) and Amakusa Airline to remote Amakusa island.
3. Reportedly, the runway of Kumamoto Airport is intact while the terminal building was damaged by earthquakes.

MRJ to be shown to G7 VIPｓ in May

Mitsubishi MRJ, photo Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation

Showcase Japan High Tech at Gateway of May Ise-Shima G7 Summit

Chubu International Airport, or Centrair, will display two examples of Japanese technologies: Toyota Mirai, fuel cell car and MRJ regional jet by Mitsubishi Aircraft for visiting VIPs in order to appeal Japanese advancement in technologies.

The first example of  MRJ, the first jet airliner developed in Japan, will be parked on the airport apron where  the top leaders of the summit  will transfer from their aircraft to helicopters to reach the venue of the summit, Kashikojima, Mie Prefecture, and Japan wants to impress them.

A model of MRJ cabin interior will be shown at media center of the summit to show the new aircraft to the press of many countries as well.

Toyota Mirai, fuel cell vehicle