Aviation industry in Japan - statistics & facts

As Japan is formed of numerous islands stretching over thousands of kilometers from the north-east to the south-west, aviation is the country's primary mode of transport for long domestic trips and international travel. Over one million airplane landings at Japanese airports have been recorded annually before the COVID-19 pandemic heavily disrupted the industry. Domestic trips still account for the majority of travel volume and revenue earned by Japan's aviation companies. However, inbound travel has been increasing significantly in the years before the pandemic, providing a promising income source, especially to the leading industry players.

What are Japan’s important airports?

With more than 100 airports, including 28 major airports, and 54 regional airports, Japan has a strong aviation infrastructure. The control of the airports lies in the hands of either national or regional authorities, except for four company-administered international airports. The fifth international airport is Tokyo International Airport, known as Haneda International. From 1978 until the inauguration of Terminal 3 in 2010, Haneda handled domestic flights only, whereas Narita International, the other major airport in the Greater Tokyo Area, handled primarily international flights. Haneda and Narita are Japan’s main hubs: they have the highest traffic among domestic airports. The most-flown routes start from Haneda, while most international flights arrive at Narita.

The market leaders of Japanese aviation: ANA and JAL

In the past, each flight route corresponded with a singular operation-permitting license granted by the authorities. Most of those licenses were in the hands of either Japan Airlines (JAL), All Nippon Airways (ANA), or Japan Air System (JAS). Nowadays, market entry relies on permission for operations, and passenger fares only need to be notified to the authorities in advance. The deregulation allowed new carriers to enter the market, but it also resulted in numerous mergers and acquisitions, like that of JAL and JAS. Despite numerous low-cost carriers (LCC) and small carriers appearing in the domestic market, many are ANA and JAL subsidiaries or have the two as major shareholders. Following suit with the industry trend, the privatization of aviation services has extended to airports and their operations. Since the implementation of reforms, the passenger load factor has improved, and traffic has increased — until the COVID-19 pandemic struck.

Impact of COVID-19 on Japanese aviation

Travel restrictions resulting from the pandemic have drastically impacted the revenues of airlines and airports. In particular, they have affected international operations, as exemplified by JAL’s passenger revenues, but domestic transportation has suffered as well because domestic travel was also strongly discouraged during states of emergency. To limit further economic repercussions, the Japanese Government has put together several stimulus packages totaling trillions of Japanese yen. Subsidies, tax reductions, and zero-interest loans have further helped Japanese air carriers and airport companies survive the pandemic. The industry recovered partially in 2022 and was on the way to full recovery in 2023, as domestic travel and inbound travel were possible again.

This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.

Number of terminal passengers handled in Japan: 178.63m

Volume of air cargo handled in Japan: 4.75m t

Leading passenger airline in Japan: All Nippon Airways

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Number of passengers handled at airports in Japan from 2013 to 2022 (in millions)

Passenger Air Transport

Number of passengers handled at airports in Japan 2013-2022

Total passenger traffic at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan, from 2013 to 2022 (in millions)

Passenger Air Transport

Passenger traffic at Tokyo International Airport in Japan 2013-2022

Number of terminal passengers at Narita International Airport in Japan from 2014 to 2023 (in millions)

Passenger Air Transport

Number of terminal passengers at Narita Airport in Japan 2014-2023

Recommended statistics

Overview

Premium Statistic Number of passengers handled at airports in Japan 2013-2022
Number of passengers handled at airports in Japan 2013-2022
Number of passengers handled at airports in Japan from 2013 to 2022 (in millions)
Premium Statistic Air freight volume handled at airports in Japan 2013-2022
Air freight volume handled at airports in Japan 2013-2022
Air freight volume handled at airports in Japan from 2013 to 2022 (in million tons)
Premium Statistic Number of landings at airports in Japan 2013-2022, by flight type
Number of landings at airports in Japan 2013-2022, by flight type
Number of landings recorded at airports in Japan from 2013 to 2022, by type of flight (in 1,000s)
Premium Statistic Domestic passenger revenues of air carriers in Japan FY 2013-2022
Domestic passenger revenues of air carriers in Japan FY 2013-2022
Domestic passenger revenues of air carriers in Japan from fiscal year 2013 to 2022 (in trillion Japanese yen)
Premium Statistic Leading airlines on domestic flights in Japan FY 2022, by passenger revenue
Leading airlines on domestic flights in Japan FY 2022, by passenger revenue
Leading airlines on domestic flights in Japan in fiscal year 2022, by passenger revenue (in billion Japanese yen)
Premium Statistic Leading airports in Japan 2022, by passengers handled
Leading airports in Japan 2022, by passengers handled
Leading airports in Japan in 2022, by number of passengers handled (in millions)

Passenger operations

Premium Statistic Number of domestic flight passengers handled at airports in Japan 2013-2022
Number of domestic flight passengers handled at airports in Japan 2013-2022
Number of domestic flight passengers handled at airports in Japan from 2013 to 2022 (in millions)
Premium Statistic Number of passengers carried via domestic air transport in Japan 2013-2022
Number of passengers carried via domestic air transport in Japan 2013-2022
Number of passengers carried via domestic air transportation in Japan from 2013 to 2022 (in millions)
Premium Statistic Passenger-distance of domestic flights in Japan 2013-2022
Passenger-distance of domestic flights in Japan 2013-2022
Passenger-distance of domestic air transport in Japan from 2013 to 2022 (in billion passenger-kilometers)
Premium Statistic Number of international flight passengers handled at airports in Japan 2013-2022
Number of international flight passengers handled at airports in Japan 2013-2022
Number of international flight passengers handled at airports in Japan from 2013 to 2022 (in millions)
Premium Statistic Number of passengers on international flights via Japanese air carriers 2013-2022
Number of passengers on international flights via Japanese air carriers 2013-2022
Number of passengers carried on international flights operated by Japanese air carriers from 2013 to 2022 (in millions)
Premium Statistic Passenger-distance of international flights via Japanese air carriers 2013-2022
Passenger-distance of international flights via Japanese air carriers 2013-2022
Passenger-distance of international flights operated by Japanese air carriers from 2013 to 2022 (in billion passenger-kilometers)

Freight operations

Premium Statistic Air freight volume on domestic flights handled at airports in Japan 2013-2022
Air freight volume on domestic flights handled at airports in Japan 2013-2022
Air freight volume on domestic flights handled at airports in Japan from 2013 to 2022 (in million tons)
Premium Statistic Volume of domestic air freight transported in Japan 2013-2022
Volume of domestic air freight transported in Japan 2013-2022
Volume of domestic air freight transportation in Japan from 2013 to 2022 (in 1,000 metric tons)
Premium Statistic Domestic air freight payload-distance in Japan 2013-2022
Domestic air freight payload-distance in Japan 2013-2022
Payload-distance of domestic air freight transport in Japan from 2013 to 2022 (in million ton-kilometers)
Premium Statistic Air freight volume on international flights handled in Japan 2013-2022
Air freight volume on international flights handled in Japan 2013-2022
Air freight volume on international flights handled at Japanese airports from 2013 to 2022 (in million tons)
Premium Statistic Freight volume on international flights via Japanese air carriers 2013-2022
Freight volume on international flights via Japanese air carriers 2013-2022
Volume of air freight transported on international flights operated by Japanese air carriers from Japan from 2013 to 2022 (in million tons)
Premium Statistic Air cargo payload-distance on international flights via Japanese carriers 2013-2022
Air cargo payload-distance on international flights via Japanese carriers 2013-2022
Payload-distance of air freight transported on international flights operated by Japanese air carriers from 2013 to 2022 (in billion ton-kilometers)

Tokyo International Airport (HND)

Premium Statistic Passenger traffic at Tokyo International Airport in Japan 2013-2022
Passenger traffic at Tokyo International Airport in Japan 2013-2022
Total passenger traffic at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan, from 2013 to 2022 (in millions)
Premium Statistic Air freight volume handled at Tokyo International Airport in Japan 2013-2022
Air freight volume handled at Tokyo International Airport in Japan 2013-2022
Air freight volume handled at Tokyo Haneda Airport in Japan from 2013 to 2022 (in 1,000 tons)
Premium Statistic Japan Airport Terminal's operating revenues FY 2015-2022
Japan Airport Terminal's operating revenues FY 2015-2022
Operating revenues of Japan Airport Terminal Co., Ltd. (Haneda Airport) from fiscal year 2015 to 2022 (in billion Japanese yen)
Premium Statistic Japan Airport Terminal's net income FY 2015-2022
Japan Airport Terminal's net income FY 2015-2022
Net income of Japan Airport Terminal Co., Ltd. (Haneda Airport) from fiscal year 2015 to 2022 (in billion Japanese yen)
Premium Statistic Japan Airport Terminal's total assets FY 2015-2022
Japan Airport Terminal's total assets FY 2015-2022
Total assets of Japan Airport Terminal Co., Ltd. (Haneda Airport) from fiscal year 2015 to 2022 (in billion Japanese yen)
Premium Statistic Japan Airport Terminal's number of employees FY 2015-2022
Japan Airport Terminal's number of employees FY 2015-2022
Number of employees working for Japan Airport Terminal Co., Ltd. (Haneda Airport) from fiscal year 2015 to 2022

Narita International Airport (NRT)

Basic Statistic Number of terminal passengers at Narita Airport in Japan 2014-2023
Number of terminal passengers at Narita Airport in Japan 2014-2023
Number of terminal passengers at Narita International Airport in Japan from 2014 to 2023 (in millions)
Premium Statistic Air freight volume handled at Narita International Airport in Japan 2013-2022
Air freight volume handled at Narita International Airport in Japan 2013-2022
Air freight volume handled at Narita International Airport in Japan from 2013 to 2022 (in million tons)
Premium Statistic Narita International Airport's operating revenues FY 2015-2022
Narita International Airport's operating revenues FY 2015-2022
Operating revenues of Narita International Airport Corp. from fiscal year 2015 to 2022 (in billion Japanese yen)
Premium Statistic Narita International Airport's net income FY 2015-2022
Narita International Airport's net income FY 2015-2022
Net income of Narita International Airport Corp. from fiscal year 2015 to 2022 (in billion Japanese yen)
Premium Statistic Narita International Airport's total assets FY 2015-2022
Narita International Airport's total assets FY 2015-2022
Total assets of Narita International Airport Corp. from fiscal year 2015 to 2022 (in trillion Japanese yen)
Premium Statistic Narita International Airport's number of employees FY 2015-2022
Narita International Airport's number of employees FY 2015-2022
Number of employees working for Narita International Airport Corp. from fiscal year 2015 to 2022

ANA Holdings Inc.

Basic Statistic All Nippon Airways' operating revenue FY 2013-2022
All Nippon Airways' operating revenue FY 2013-2022
Operating revenue of ANA Holdings Inc. from the fiscal year 2013 to 2022 (in trillion Japanese yen)
Premium Statistic All Nippon Airways' net income FY 2013-2022
All Nippon Airways' net income FY 2013-2022
Net income of ANA Holdings Inc. from the fiscal year 2013 to 2022 (in billion Japanese yen)
Basic Statistic ANA Holdings' employee numbers FY 2013-2022
ANA Holdings' employee numbers FY 2013-2022
Number of employees working for ANA Holdings Inc. from the fiscal year 2013 to 2022 (in 1,000s)
Basic Statistic All Nippon Airways' passenger revenues FY 2013-2022, by type of flight
All Nippon Airways' passenger revenues FY 2013-2022, by type of flight
Passenger revenues of ANA Holdings Inc. from the fiscal year 2013 to 2022, by type of flight (in billion Japanese yen)
Basic Statistic All Nippon Airways' revenue passenger kilometers FY 2013-2022, by type of flight
All Nippon Airways' revenue passenger kilometers FY 2013-2022, by type of flight
Revenue passenger kilometers (RPK) of All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. from the fiscal year 2013 to 2022, by type of flight (in billion passenger kilometers)
Basic Statistic All Nippon Airways' available seat kilometers FY 2013-2022, by type of flight
All Nippon Airways' available seat kilometers FY 2013-2022, by type of flight
Available seat kilometers (ASK) of All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. from the fiscal year 2013 to 2022, by type of flight (in billion seat-kilometers)

Japan Airlines Co., Ltd.

Basic Statistic JAL's operating revenue FY 2013-2022
JAL's operating revenue FY 2013-2022
Operating revenue of Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. from fiscal year 2013 to 2022 (in trillion Japanese yen)
Premium Statistic JAL's profit FY 2013-2022
JAL's profit FY 2013-2022
Profit of Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. from the fiscal year 2013 to 2022 (in billion Japanese yen)
Premium Statistic JAL's employee numbers FY 2013-2022
JAL's employee numbers FY 2013-2022
Number of employees working for Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. from fiscal year 2013 to 2022 (in 1,000s)
Premium Statistic JAL's passenger revenues FY 2013-2022, by type of flight
JAL's passenger revenues FY 2013-2022, by type of flight
Passenger revenues of Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. from the fiscal year 2013 to 2022, by type of flight (in billion Japanese yen)
Premium Statistic JAL's revenue passenger kilometers FY 2013-2022, by type of flight
JAL's revenue passenger kilometers FY 2013-2022, by type of flight
Revenue passenger kilometers (RPK) of Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. from the fiscal year 2013 to 2022, by type of flight (in billion passenger kilometers)
Premium Statistic JAL's available seat kilometers FY 2013-2022, by type of flight
JAL's available seat kilometers FY 2013-2022, by type of flight
Available seat kilometers (ASK) of Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. from the fiscal year 2013 to 2022, by type of flight (in billion seat kilometers)

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Key figures

The most important key figures provide you with a compact summary of the topic of "Aviation industry in Japan" and take you straight to the corresponding statistics.

Global number of flights
36.8m
Detailed statistics
Global air traffic - number of flights 2004-2024
Fuel consumption of airlines globally
74bn gal
Detailed statistics
Commercial airlines worldwide - fuel consumption 2005-2023
Number of air passengers globally
3.8bn
Detailed statistics
Global air traffic - scheduled passengers 2004-2022

Domestic connection with the highest number of annual passengers
Tokyo (Haneda)-Hokkaido (New Chitose)
Detailed statistics
Leading domestic flight routes in Japan FY 2022, by number of passengers
Highest-traffic air cargo route
Haneda-Naha
Detailed statistics
Leading domestic flight routes in Japan FY 2022, by cargo volume
Average flight length
963 km
Detailed statistics
Average domestic stage length of airlines in Japan FY 2013-2022

Number of passengers
44.9m
Detailed statistics
Number of domestic air passengers carried on local routes in Japan 2013-2022
Passenger-distance
38.69bn pkm
Detailed statistics
Passenger-distance of domestic flights on local routes in Japan 2013-2022
Volume of freight
119.01k t
Detailed statistics
Domestic air freight volume transported on local routes in Japan 2013-2022
Payload-distance
109.47m tkm
Detailed statistics
Domestic air freight payload-distance on local routes in Japan in 2013-2022

Production value of the aerospace industry
1.71tr JPY
Detailed statistics
Aerospace sector production value in Japan FY 2013-2022
Order value for aircraft
1.2tr JPY
Detailed statistics
Order value for aircraft in Japan 2013-2022
Export value of the aerospace industry
548bn JPY
Detailed statistics
Aerospace industry export value from Japan 2013-2022