ACI Asia-Pacific welcomes a new Regional Board Director On June 28, 2013, New Kansai International Airport Company (NKIAC) President and CEO Keiichi Ando was appointed Regional Board Director of Asia-Pacific Board of the Airports Council International (ACI). Formed in 1991 as a collective of airport operators around the world, ACI oversees the global air transport system along with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA). ACI counts 597 members operating 1,679 airports in 177 countries and territories, and has established regional boards for Africa; the Asia-Pacific; Europe; Latin America and the Caribbean area; and North America. NKIAC joined ACI Asia-Pacific in 1991and is actively engaging in policy formulation and management for the benefit of other members and the entire Asia-Pacific.
Kyofu Ramen in the Machiya Koji Dining Court reborn as Honey Mitsubachi Coffee The Kyofu Ramen restaurant in the Machiya Koji Dining Court on the 2nd floor of Terminal 1 has been reborn as the Honey Mitsubachi Coffee. This cute and cozy self-service cafe offers homemade donuts and delicious coffee as well as a selection of healthy drinks. Their plain, cinnamon and monthly-special donuts are rapidly gaining popularity among travelers as perfect gifts.
The KIX-OOL alliance s first joint effort - a ceremony to send off runners to the Gold Coast Airport Marathon Kansai International Airport (KIX) and Gold Coast Airport (OOL) signed a strategic memorandum of understanding in April 2013 aimed toward developing mutual measures to enhance the values of both operations. The first measure to be adopted was a ceremony at KIX involving a partnership between the 20th Senshu International City Marathon held on February 17, 2013, and the 2013 Gold Coast Airport Marathon held on July 6 and 7 of the same year. Since becoming partners in 2000, the organizing bodies of both races have been exchanging runners. In other words, both sides select a pair of male and female runners - 1st place finishers or contestants specially chosen for their performance - and sponsor their entry in the other country s marathon. The ceremony at KIX was held to celebrate the departure of a pair of Senshu marathon runners to Australia to participate in the Gold Coast event. We hope this memorable send-off event will help strengthen the relationship between both marathons and airports.
KIX greatly expands free Wi-Fi service Although for some time now KIX has been providing free Wi-Fi hotspots to airport users who want to connect to the Internets via their laptops, smart phones, tablets or other mobile devices, access was restricted to limited areas. However, as shown below we have greatly expanded coverage so that users can now easily go online anywhere in the Terminal 1 and the Aeroplaza building.
Local high school helps build a garden at ITM On Tuesday, July 23, the Environmental Greenery Program at Osaka Prefectural Engei High School helped develop a unique space at Osaka International Airport (ITM) in Itami called the Butterfly Garden*. ITM workers also volunteered to improve the airport s Flower Campus on the same day. ITM and Engei High School in Ikeda City joined forces to create an area filled with original works students and teachers made with their own hands. The garden is now an ideal place for airport users to rest and relax and for children to learn about nature and ecology. In its endeavor to become an airport friendly to both people and the environment, ITM will continue to enrich its facilities with plants and flowers to support the airport s harmonious relationship with the local community. * Consisting of greenery that attracts butterflies and other types of insects, Butterfly Garden is an ideal spot for people to observe and enjoy the coexistence between plants and animals.
KIX initiates a pilot program for a new parking reservation system On Thursday, August 1, 2013, KIX commenced a pilot program for a new parking reservation system designed to alleviate congestion and make it easier for drivers to find parking spaces. We hope this new system will lead to a more pleasurable airport experience by eliminating drivers concerns over parking, especially during the family vacation season of summer.
StarFlyer to launch Osaka (KIX)-Fukuoka route on October 1 On Tuesday, October 1, the airline company StarFlyer (SFJ) will begin service between Osaka (KIX) and Fukuoka in accordance with their initial plans to offer this route sometime during the second half of 2013. SFJ currently operates five return flights a day between Osaka (KIX) and Tokyo (Haneda). The start of the Osaka-Fukuoka service with four return flights a day (or eight flights total) marks the first time in six years for this carrier to launch a new route, which is anticipated to greatly benefit travel for both business and pleasure. We hope travelers to the Fukuoka and the Kyushu region will take advantage of these fast and comfortable flights offered by StarFlyer, nicknamed the Hybrid Airline.