Kumamoto Airport privatisation: ANA, JAL in the consortium

As part of the ongoing privatisation of Japanese airports, a consortium comprising a cross-section of Japanese commerce and industry has just signed an agreement for the private operation of the Kumamoto Airport under concession.

The consortium includes Japan's two main airlines. Japan Airlines (JAL) and ANA Holdings announced that the consortium had signed a basic agreement with Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLITT) under the terms of a 33-year concession contract.

As in Brazil, but at a time when Japan's airports for the most part are not being privatised in blocks, a number of smaller airports are coming to the market. Although on the surface they may not appear to have much to offer to investors, Japanese firms at least are keen on taking them on.