Background:

Changi Airports International (CAI) was an equity shareholder of Fukuoka International Airport Co., Ltd. (FIAC), the operator of Fukuoka Airport (FUK). FUK is the gateway to Kyushu, a vibrant catchment of 13 million residents in western Japan. FUK is the fourth busiest airport in the country after Narita, Haneda and Kansai airports.

Problem: 

FUK is a highly slots constrained airport. When Covid-19 hit in early 2020, FIAC had to ensure airlines continued to maintain a high level of slots application. This was to position FUK for the strongest possible recovery, and for optimal future growth when the second runway is operationalised in 2025. Additionally, with flights grounded and low passenger volumes, there was a need to pivot to other sources of revenue.

Solutions: 

• CAI helped FIAC strategise and implement creative means of traffic development. This included moving airline engagements online, and creating tourism videos of Kyushu in Mandarin to maintain Chinese airlines’ slots application interests for FUK.

• On the commercial front, CAI worked with FIAC to introduce three unique, first-in-Japan, airport products. 

   

  1. Fukuoka Open Top Bus Tour: Paid service that allows locals and tourists access to the FUK airside on an open top bus.

  2. Night Wedding Photo Shoots: Paid service that allows couples to take their wedding photos on the tarmac in front of aircraft, during airport curfew hours. 

  3. Premium Ground Handling Tour: Paid service that brings children and families to FUK’s food catering facility, and FUK airside to learn about ground handling.

Results: 

• FUK registered the highest international slots application growth among large Japanese airports during the Covid-19 period, indicating peer outperformance. Post Covid-19, FUK’s international passenger traffic recovered the fastest among large Japanese airports.

• New commercial products helped FIAC grow alternative streams of revenues.

• New commercial products enabled FIAC to effectively engage the Japanese public even during Covid-19, building goodwill with the community, and positioning FIAC stronger for recovery. Channel NewsAsia reported positively on FUK’s new commercial products in September 2023.