Wakkanai Airport (稚内空港, Wakkanai Kūkō) (IATA: WKJ, ICAO: RJCW) is an airport located 10 km (6.2 mi) east southeast[2] of Wakkanai, Hokkaidō, Japan.

Wakkanai is the northernmost airport in Japan that is capable of handling jet aircraft; due to its small size, it is susceptible to closures during the coldest winter months, in which case incoming aircraft are often diverted to Asahikawa Airport. It has one jet bridge, one apron gate for mid-sized jet aircraft, and two apron gates for commuter aircraft.[3][4]

History

Wakkanai Airport opened to passenger traffic in 1960, initially on an irregular basis. Air Nippon began scheduled service to Okadama Airport and Rishiri Airport in 1974, followed by Rebun Airport in 1978 and New Chitose Airport in 1980. Air Nippon discontinued the short Rebun and Rishiri commuter flights in 2003 due to poor load factors.

In 1987, the 1,200 m main runway was extended to 1,800 m, allowing All Nippon Airways to begin jet service to Tokyo. The flight was initially seasonal and did not become a year-round service until 1997. The city of Wakkanai provided subsidies for city residents to use the flight until 2005, when discounted fares became available.

As of 2022, ANA has two scheduled daily round trips to Sapporo using Bombardier Q400 turboprops, and one scheduled daily round trip to Tokyo (two from June to September) using Boeing 737 and Airbus A321 jets.[5]

Airlines and destinations

AirlinesDestinations
All Nippon Airways Tokyo–Haneda
ANA Wings Sapporo–Chitose

Ground transportation

The airport is located off of Japan National Route 238. The airport is 12km from central Wakkanai.

Busses

Airport Terminal Bus stop

This bus stop is located near the airport.

No. Via Destination Company Note
32 (Kuko Sen) Minami-Wakkanai Station・Wakkanai Station Wakkanai Ferry Terminal Soya Bus Departure times are scheduled to coincide with the ANA flight schedule
Soya Misaki-Kuko Sen Soya[6]・Soya Misaki・Soya・Wakkanai Station Wakkanai Ferry Terminal Runs between August and October. Departure times are scheduled to coincide with the ANA flight schedule. Soya bus stop is stopped at twice.
Jidōsha Gakkō-mae Bus stop　自動車学校前

This bus stop is located on Japan National Route 238 in front of the Wakkanai Driving School.

No. Via Destination Company Note
Tenpoku-Soya　Misaki Sen Minami-Wakkanai Station Wakkanai Station Soya Bus Runs on only one service through Ekimae dōri.
Soya Misaki・Ōmisaki Elementary School・Onishibetsu Station[7]・Sarufutsu Station・Hamatonbetsu Station・Nakatonbetsu Station Otoineppu Station Bus bound for Otoineppu Station runs in only the morning. Most of services run till Nakatonbetsu Station Bus Terminal.

Railway

Until 1989, the JNR Tempoku Line passed by the airport; however, the airport did not have a station on the line except for one day in June 1987, when a temporary Higashi-Koetoi Station was opened to accommodate visitors to the airport's extended runway.[8]

References

  1. ^ "Wakkanai Airport" (PDF). Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 October 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  2. ^ AIS Japan
  3. ^ "稚内空港のご案内". Wakkanai Airport Terminal. Archived from the original on 12 May 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  4. ^ "稚内空港". Tokyo Regional Civil Aviation Bureau. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  5. ^ "フライトスケジュール – 稚内空港". Wakkanai Airport Terminal. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  6. ^ Passengers who go to Shiroi michi should get off at this bus stop. Explaining to a bus driver about getting on the same service which get off at this bus stop again at Soya bus stop when you get off the service at Soya bus stop is possible for you to ride on this service without added fares.
  7. ^ Passengers can transfer onto Tempoku which go to Asahikawa Station.
  8. ^ ja:東声問駅

External links