Nichiro International Airport

Nichiro International Airport (ニチロ国際空港 Nichiro Kokusai Kūkō) (IATA: NIO, ICAO: RTNC) is the primary airport serving the city of Nichiro. The airport is located in the town of Moruma, which is part of the Nichiro metropolitan area. It is situated just 17 km (11 mi) southeast of Central Nichiro.

The airport is currently a hub for passenger airlines Takyoto Airways, Imperial Airlines, including cargo airline Sakura FlyFreight, which is a subsidiary of Takyoto Airways. It is also serving as a focus city for ConnexAir, Japan Airlines, and New Holland Airways. There are many nonstop routes to Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania.

Nichiro International serves as a major gateway between Asia and North America, serving as a competition and relief against Japanese airport Narita International Airport and Kyūmura International Airport in Toyokin. The airport gains most of its passenger traffic from the major tourism and attractions in the central business district of Nichiro. Proximity to the ocean allows visitors to have quick transfers to ports for cruises and ferry rides.

In 2011 the airport ranked as the second busiest airport by volume of international passengers carried, just behind Kyūmura International Airport. In 2011, 23,345,878 passengers traveled through the airport, making it the third busiest airport in Takyoto by passenger traffic. The airport handles the most international cargo traffic in Takyoto.

Terminals
There are currently two main terminals in Nichiro International Airport. The Umi-gao Terminal has been part of the airport since its opening, and has been expanded twice over the years. The Yama-gao Terminal is a new addition and opened up to the public in 2002. Each terminal is split up into 2 wings, a north wing and a south wing. The southern wings handle most international flights while the northern wings handle the remaining domestic flights. The airport also features a 4-level long-term parking facility near the transportation center, and a parking lot for short-term parking alongside of it.

As part of the BluExperience Airport Expansion plan, a third terminal, currently called the Shijima Terminal, is under construction. It is slated to open in 2015, and will handle more international traffic. It will feature a satellite terminal design, and will have 45 gates. The terminal will feature an overnight hotel, and also a duty-free shopping mall.

Umi-gao Terminal (Terminal 1)
The Umi-gao Terminal, or Terminal 1, is the largest terminal at Nichiro International. It has a maximum capacity of 10 million passengers annually in its 1.2 km (0.8 mi) long concourse. The terminal has 50 gates: U1-24 in the North Wing, and U25-49 in the South Wing. The name Umi-gao comes from how the eastern face of the terminal faces the ocean in the distance.

North Wing
The North Wing handles departures and arrivals for the airline Takyoto Airways, which uses the airport as a hub. However, if the airport is congested and a plane is not occupying a gate in the North Wing of Umi-gao, then it will occupy it. These airlines are usually ConnexAir and Imperial Airlines, which operate in the next door wing. There are 25 gates in the North Wing (U1-U24). Most of the ticketing and security services are located in the North Wing. People going through to the South Wing can use the moving walkways to easily get to the South Wing.

South Wing
The South Wing handles departures and arrivals for Imperial Airlines, ConnexAir, All Nippon Airways, United Airlines, and New Holland Airways. It features 25 gates (U25-U49). This wing of the Umi-gao Terminal handles most of the eateries and souvenir shops in the Umi-gao Terminal. There are also 3 baggage carousels in the South Wing, with the remaining 2 being located in the central circle.

Yama-gao Terminal (Terminal 2)
The Yama-gao Terminal, or Terminal 2, is the main domestic terminal at Nichiro International. It is also the main low-cost terminal at the airport. Like the Umi-gao Terminal, the Yama-gao Terminal is split up into a North and South Wing. It has a maximum capacity of 8.5 million passengers annually, although it has sometimes gone over its maximum capacity (2011). There are 38 gates in the Yama-gao Terminal: Y1-Y27, and Y28-Y37. It receives its name from how the western face of the terminal faces the mountains of Yoturu.

North Wing
The North Wing handles all departures and arrivals for low-cost carriers flying to the airport. Contempo Air dominates the North Wing, and operates from gates Y1-Y12, and Y25. Other carriers include AirAsia Japan, Solaseed Air, Air Do, and Jetstar Japan. Jetstar Japan moved from to the North Wing from the South Wing of the Yama-gao Terminal after problems with slot constraints at the South Wing. Cheap eateries and cafes are located along the wing. There are 28 gates in the North Wing: Y1-Y27.

South Wing
The South Wing handles many intra-Asia and short-haul flights to Nichiro International. Japan Airlines is the main airline in the South Wing, which flies to the airport as a focus city. It operates many flights to Japan, but also flies daily to Los Angeles International Airport. New Holland Airways also operates in the South Wing. Other airlines include Korean Air and Air China. There are 10 gates in the South Wing: Y28-Y37.