New runways for Tokyo Haneda and Narita airports would allow Japan to catch up to other Asian hubs

In resounding contrast to European and American attitudes to aviation as a milk cow for tax and regulation, Japan's consideration of new runways at Tokyo Haneda and Tokyo Narita airports further cements the government's view of aviation as an economic growth engine. This was not always the case, where the government previously used the excuse of scarcity of slots to protect its home airlines from foreign competition.

Japan in recent years has moved to open skies in many - but not all - markets. It has welcomed four, possibly soon to be five, domestic low-cost carriers. Although Japan for some years has discussed additional runways for Tokyo, the mood this time appears more serious. But as always in Japan, it is not without its own political context: reforming airspace and other measures would negate the need for additional runways. Haneda has one of the lowest runway utilisation rates with 101,000 movements per runway in 2013 compared to the 180-200,000 per runway achieved by Jakarta, Guangzhou, Beijing Capital and Hong Kong.