The differences between airports

There are some differences between Japanese airports and US airports.

First, US airports don’t allow smoking. If you want to smoke, you must go outside and go to the places which are designated as smoking. In Japan, there are some smoking spaces inside the airports.

Second, US airports don’t have any coin-operated lockers. This has taken place against the background of the 9･11 terrorism. If there are some coin-operated lockers in airports, terrorists can hide bombs. In Japan, there are some coin-operated lockers.

Third, there are some differences about baggage inspection. In America, sun-protect-cream, tooth powder, mascara, perfume, lipstick are considered dangerous goods by air security and are prohibited under the law. In Japan, you can bring cosmetics and medicines into the airplane in one case, up to 0.5kg or 0.5L. You can take up to four cases.

Fourth, on one hand, Japanese make much of flight attendant’s service in Japan.

On the other hand, in Japan airplanes travel is regarded as merely one kind of transportation.

Fifth, there are differences of the number of airports per area between countries. In Japan, the number of airports per 10,000 km² is 2.15. In America, the number is 0.75.

Fig.1 The number of airport per 10,000km²

Fig.2 The number of airports per 1,000,000 people

Fig. 2 shows how dependant on airports each country is. In Japan, bullet trains and railroads have been developed, so Japan needs fewer airports than the US.

Sixth, the US adopted a contract of open-skies. Airlines in the US can negotiate with airports in other countries directly. In Japan, the Ministry of Land doesn’t allow it.

Seventh, In America, 17,830 business-jets are in service. In Japan, 63 business-jets are in service. In addition, the airports for the exclusive use of business-jet are 5,000 places in the US. In Japan, there are exclusive use business-jet areas.

Written by Chika Hasegawa