January 15, 2026

Haneda Airport to Expand International Capacity with New Terminal 1 Flight Zone

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) plans to build a new international flight zone at Haneda Airport’s Terminal 1. The project will begin with the construction of additional parking stands for international aircraft in the 2030s, followed by the conversion of part of the domestic flight area at Terminal 1 for international use. The international facilities at Terminals 1 and 2 will eventually be integrated. The initiative aims to improve passenger convenience and encourage visitors to spread out across Japan's regional areas.

Phased Expansion to Ease Congestion and Support Inbound Growth

Currently, Haneda Airport is divided into three terminals. Terminal 1 is used exclusively for domestic flights, Terminal 2 handles both domestic and international services, and Terminal 3 is dedicated to international flights. Japan Airlines operates primarily from Terminal 1, while All Nippon Airways and other carriers use Terminal 2. MLIT will expand international capacity in stages. In the early 2030s, the number of international aircraft parking stands at Terminal 2 will be increased from the current seven to nine. Construction of the first phase of the new international facilities will then begin, with details such as the number of parking stands to be finalized at a later date.

As flight volumes have risen, ground congestion at Haneda has become an increasing challenge in recent years. Through this series of expansions, the ministry aims to significantly shorten transfer times and reduce delays. Discussions will also be held on the allocation of airlines between Terminals 1 and 2 after the expansion. In the wider Tokyo metropolitan area, functional upgrades are underway at Narita Airport, including the addition of a new runway. The government is seeking to further boost inbound tourism and may consider increasing the annual number of takeoffs and landings at Haneda, which was raised to around 490,000 in 2020 following earlier expansion.

The number of visitors to Japan is expected to exceed 40 million for the first time in 2025, and the government has set a target of 60 million by 2030. Despite this surge, foreign visitors’ domestic travel remains limited. MLIT estimates that only 3.2% of inter-prefectural travel by inbound tourists in 2023 involved travel beyond their initial destination prefecture.