Narita airport marks 10 years since opening of 2nd runway

Narita airport marks 10 years since opening of 2nd runway

NARITA, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter in October 2011 shows the second runway (back R) of Narita International Airport near Tokyo. Narita airport, Japan's main international gateway, opened its long sought-after second runway on April 18, 2002, after operating on a single runway for nearly a quarter century. On front R is land owned by opponents of the airport.

Japan, U.S. eye 2 base shape options over Futenma

Japan, U.S. eye 2 base shape options over Futenma

TOKYO, Japan - Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada speaks at a press conference in Tokyo on Aug. 31, 2010. He released a report compiled by Japan and the United States on the technical details of the planned replacement facility for the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa that presents two options for its design -- either two runways in a V-shaped formation or a single runway.

3 die as small plane crash-lands in Nagasaki Pref.

3 die as small plane crash-lands in Nagasaki Pref.

TSUSHIMA, Japan - A single-engine Sokata TB-21 plane crashed near the runway of Tsushima airport on one of the Tsushima Islands, Nagasaki Prefecture, on Sept. 16. All three people aboard were killed.

Construction of 2nd runway starts at Kansai Int'l Airport

Construction of 2nd runway starts at Kansai Int'l Airport

OSAKA, Japan - A ceremony to begin a land-reclamation work to construct a second runway off Osaka Prefecture, western Japan, is held at the offshare airport on Aug. 7. The photo shows officials and guests of Kansai International Airport Co. participating in the ceremony. The round-the-clock airport has a single 3,500 meter runway.

Japan, U.S. eye 2 base shape options over Futenma

Japan, U.S. eye 2 base shape options over Futenma

TOKYO, Japan - Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada speaks at a press conference in Tokyo on Aug. 31, 2010. He released a report compiled by Japan and the United States on the technical details of the planned replacement facility for the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa that presents two options for its design -- either two runways in a V-shaped formation or a single runway. (Kyodo)

Narita airport marks 10 years since opening of 2nd runway

Narita airport marks 10 years since opening of 2nd runway

NARITA, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter in October 2011 shows the second runway (back R) of Narita International Airport near Tokyo. Narita airport, Japan's main international gateway, opened its long sought-after second runway on April 18, 2002, after operating on a single runway for nearly a quarter century. On front R is land owned by opponents of the airport. (Kyodo)

3 die as small plane crash-lands in Nagasaki Pref.

3 die as small plane crash-lands in Nagasaki Pref.

TSUSHIMA, Japan - A single-engine Sokata TB-21 plane crashed near the runway of Tsushima airport on one of the Tsushima Islands, Nagasaki Prefecture, on Sept. 16. All three people aboard were killed. (Kyodo)

Construction of 2nd runway starts at Kansai Int'l Airport

Construction of 2nd runway starts at Kansai Int'l Airport

OSAKA, Japan - A ceremony to begin a land-reclamation work to construct a second runway off Osaka Prefecture, western Japan, is held at the offshare airport on Aug. 7. The photo shows officials and guests of Kansai International Airport Co. participating in the ceremony. The round-the-clock airport has a single 3,500 meter runway.