*********** 090894A.ENG *********** Country: Japan From: Japan Times 2 September 1994, p. 2 KEYWORDS: Japan, Osaka Bay; Kansai Airport, Floating structures, Floating runways +++++ The Kansai International Airport opened this week to serve the Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto area. It has only one runway which really eliminates it as a potential hub for Asia. The airport is built on a man-made island in Osaka Bay at enormous cost and already is sinking. To solve to problem of an extra runway, the concept of a floating one has been proposed (essentially an aircraft carrier for commercial jets on a barge). The article in Msg. B discusses this idea and give some stats on the new airport. I visited it with UJNR and think it is a dog. All 30 gates are lined up in a row, and as I said the runway is sinking. It is an hour from Osaka by train and the hydrofoil from Kobe is quicker, but costs a bundle (see earlier message). The concept of a hub is a good one but they are going to get killed when the New Seoul and the New Hong Kong airport open, just on landing fees alone! ************** END Msg. A.ENG **************