As visitor numbers to Japan continue to rise, airports like Narita International Airport face growing pressure to keep up with demand. The airport, operated by Narita International Airport Corporation (NAA), is rolling out major upgrades as part of a digital transformation strategy that seeks to revamp it into an “airport of the future.”
NAA executives Shinichiro Motomiya (GM for Airport Planning) and Tatsuya Izumi (Deputy General Manager) spoke with Frontier Enterprise to elaborate on the status of airport upgrades.
Cleared for takeoff
In March 2018, a four-party council reached an agreement to expand the airport’s annual capacity from 300,000 to 500,000 arrivals and departures. The council comprises the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism; Chiba Prefecture; nine municipalities surrounding Narita Airport; and NAA. This expansion will involve extending the existing runway and constructing a new one.
Until the completion of the new runway, any move to increase the number of annual flights to and from Narita beyond 300,000 has had to be approved by the local communities. This coming October, the airport will expand its annual flight capacity to 340,000.
“To accommodate this increase, Narita Airport has been working to upgrade its air traffic control functions and introduce high-speed exit taxiways by the summer timetable of 2020 to ensure safe and efficient operations,” Motomiya said.
Meanwhile, one of the immediate effects of the increased number of flights is heightened noise in the surrounding communities. According to Izumi, while it is a major and crucial problem, what the airport can do on its own is limited.
“We are installing soundproofing measures at residences, schools and other properties in the surrounding area. At the same time, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and other research institutes are conducting research to reduce the source of noise, and we would like to cooperate in the development of such research by providing data and promoting its widespread use,” he said.
Ground traffic
Baggage handling is one of several airport operations currently undergoing improvements behind the scenes. According to Izumi, the decision-making involved in loading and unloading baggage is so complex and nuanced that today’s technology still can’t replicate it at the same level as human workers.
“Progress in automating baggage loading and unloading has been slow due to the dynamic and detailed nature of the extremely sophisticated decision-making process,” he said.
To address this, NAA is developing the elemental technologies that will eventually form the foundation of its future system — introducing each one incrementally.
“We believe the key to success is to introduce these technologies gradually, starting with small-scale improvements to existing operations. Our goal is to build understanding among the teams responsible for daily operations, and that’s what we’re working toward,” he noted.
Meanwhile, as AI, big data, and IoT have become staples of data-driven airport operations worldwide, Narita International Airport is using data to improve operational efficiency, optimise resource deployment, enhance safety, and increase the value delivered to users.
“Specifically, we will utilise data to optimise operations, reduce congestion, and improve marketing accuracy — all in pursuit of smarter, more sustainable airport management,” Motomiya said.
AI boost
Motomiya sees strong potential for AI at Narita Airport, drawing parallels with its success in Japan’s manufacturing and logistics sectors.
“In response to these shifts, Narita Airport is actively promoting the use of AI to improve operational efficiency, enhance safety, and elevate the passenger experience. By driving airport-wide digitalisation, we hope to create new value,” he said.
To that end, the airport is integrating emerging technologies, ideas, and data to build smarter, more sustainable operations. This includes applying real-time AI analysis to operational data and introducing predictive preventive maintenance.
Narita is also promoting Fast Travel, an initiative by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) that aims to automate and streamline passenger processing. Technologies supporting this include facial and image recognition, automated boarding bridge operations, and AI chatbot support.
Izumi also sees AI playing a major role in how airport operations evolve.
“AI technologies will help us improve staff productivity by enabling automation and labour savings that haven’t been possible with conventional systems. We also aim to provide more personalised information and services to each passenger. Our goal is to create a travel experience that’s never been seen before — using agentic AI, physical AI, and the additional workforce capacity made possible by automation to deliver more human-centred service,” he said.
Future destinations
NAA envisions Narita International Airport becoming an “airport of the future” — not just a piece of transportation infrastructure, but a continuously evolving hub shaped by technology, innovation, sustainability, and cooperation with the surrounding community.
“Around the world, smart airport initiatives are advancing through the use of AI, IoT, and data analysis. Fast Travel, which uses facial recognition, is becoming the norm, alongside passenger assistance technologies like robotics and self-driving systems. In addition, there’s growing focus on hydrogen fuel and renewable energy as part of the push toward carbon neutrality,” Motomiya observed.
He noted that many airport cities and aerotropolises are also emerging globally. In line with these developments, Narita Airport is aiming to extend its existing runway and construct a new one by March 2029. Alongside this, it plans to build a consolidated passenger terminal, develop a new cargo area, improve airport access, and drive integrated development with the local community through the introduction of the Airport City concept.
Motomiya also highlighted the Narita Open Innovation Program 2023, which attracted more than 160 companies — including start-ups — to collaborate on areas such as employee productivity, delivering new value to passengers, using fields outside the airport, and building a more sustainable airport.
“We’re currently running proof-of-concept trials for some of the proposals, and we’ll keep working to further evolve Narita Airport through open innovation initiatives,” he concluded.
