I saw the show on how Kansai Airport was build and find it interesting to have an airport in the middle of the water. I thought about what about if a plane ends up falling in the water, is it possible?!

You mean they overrun the runway?

I've never heard of it at KIX since it opened.

There was an overrun incident at Narita near Tokyo several weeks ago. It was by an Air Japan (All Nippon Airways low-cost carrier) aircraft at the second, shorter runway. But it stopped after running 60 meters or so, IIRC. I heard it was the first overrun at Narita, which has been operating more than two decades.

KIX is both financially and literally a sinking airport.

This offshore port was built with the aim of feeding passengers from local ports to overseas destinations.

Local ports are not given access to Narita because of the limited number of slots available there.

The entire plan was apparently flopped when they found out there were not enough premium cabin passengers. Several airlines have withdrawn from KIX, despite the airport authority's attempt to offer 'discounts' on slot fees, which are more or less the world's highest along with those at Narita.

Now all the Japanese airlines do not want to fly there to feed passengers to the Osaka/Kyoto area. They want to fly to Itami, the old airport, apparently because it is much more convenient for passengers. KIX is a bit far out. The trasnport ministry wants to rig Itami slot fees higher now in the hope of pushing those airlines to fly to KIX instead.

[This message has been edited by Chiangi (edited 02-18-2003).]

Yeah, they did say it does sink slowly but they rise and lower it consitantly. When I saw the show on its building they showed the big Asian airlines (All Nippon,JAL,JAS,Korean Air,Asiana, etc.) I live in Toronto and their are no flights to KIX but only to Tokyo, not sure which airport though.

Air Canada flies to Narita from Toronto. From Vancouver, Air Canada has been flying for a long time to KIX!

Yes, From YYZ(my home airport) they fly to Narita. I knew Air Canada flies to Kansai but not from Toronto. Do the pilots need speical training to land at Kansai since they can miss the runaway since it is on the water?

It's on a reclaimed 'island.' I don't know if any pilots would miss it.