History
In February of 1958, Komatsu Airport was derequisitioned by the American forces; in April of 1960, Komatsu Airport was chosen as a base of Japanese Air Self Defense Forces (JASDF) for its jet fighters and the construction of its runway, apron, etc. began. The construction work was completed in April 1961 and in December of that same year, the Airport was designated as a Public Utility Facility based on Section 5 of the Article 56 of Aviation Law. Since its establishment, Komatsu Airport has continued to develop smoothly under the joint usage by Air Self-Defense Forces and civilian aviation authorities.
At present, regular flights operate on 6 domestic routes which include Tokyo (Haneda), Sapporo (Shin-Chitose), Narita, Fukuoka, Sendai and Naha. There are also regular flights to 3 international destinations, namely Seoul, Shanghai and Taipei. Apart from these, a number of charter flights have served to various international destinations such as Italy, Taiwan, China, Korea, Guam, etc. Regular international cargo flights between Komatsu and Luxembourg was put into service since July 1994.
| Years | Contents |
|---|---|
| 1944.11 | Construction of runways from East to West (1,500 m) and South to North (1,700 m) with a width of 100 m each was completed; 2 companies of marine attack forces were permanently stationed here. |
| 1945.8 | Became a US military requisitioned base with auxiliary radar system. |
| 1955.7 | Non-regular flights between Komatsu-Osaka commenced. |
| 1955.10 | Non-regular flights between Komatsu-Nagoya commenced. |
| 1956.4 | Komatsu-Nagoya-Tokyo Non-regular flights commenced. |
| 1958.2 | US requisition released (the complete requisition in August of the same year); Komatsu contingent of JASDF was stationed. |
| 1961.6 | Komatsu Base of JASDF was inaugurated; Hokuriku Air Terminal Building Co., Ltd, was founded. |
| 1962.4 | The regular flights between Komatsu-Osaka and Komatsu-Nagoya were put into service. (Douglas DC-3/30 Seater) |
| 1963.7 | The regular flight between Komatsu-Tokyo was put into service. (Fokker F-27 Friendship/40 Seater) |
| 1964.9 | Runway was extended to 2,700 m. |
| 1967.6 | Regular flight between Komatsu-Sapporo was put into service. ((Vickers Viscount 828/68 Seater) |
| 1972.4 | Komatsu-Niigata-Sapporo regular flight was put into service. (YS-11A/ 60 Seater) |
| 1973.11 | The first international charter flight from Komatsu flew to Hong Kong. |
| 1978.3 | The regular flight service between Komatsu-Fukuoka was started. (Boeing 727-100/178 Seater) |
| 1979.7 | The Airport was designated as "quarantine port". Niigata Quarantine Office, Fushiki Sub-station, Toyama Office, Komatsu Airport Branch was opened. |
| 1979.12 | Designated as "Customs Airport" and as an airport open for the import of animals or plants. |
| 1981.1 | Designated as Immigration Port |
| 1981.2 | Number of annual domestic passengers reached 1 million. |
| 1981.9 | Construction for the New Domestic Passenger Terminal Completed. |
| 1984.3 | Construction for the New International passenger Terminal Completed. |
| 1984.7 | Regular flights between Komatsu-Sendai were put into service. (YS-11A/ 64 seater) |
| 1986.10 | Komatsu-Tokyo flights became double-track flights. |
| 1988.2 | Narita-Komatsu-Seoul flight was put intoservice. (Boeing 767/ 219 Seater) |
| 1988.7 | The number of Komatsu-Tokyo round-trip flights was increased by one making it 6 round-trip flights per day. |
| 1990.3 | The annual figure of passengers using domestic line reached 1500000. |
| 1991.4 | Singpore Airline's charter flight is flown. (Komatsu-Singpore was the first charter flight to be flown by a foreign airlines) (Airbus A 310/ 186 Seater) |
| 1991.6 | Regular flights between Komatsu-Naha were put into service. (Boeing 737/ 130 Seater) |
| 1991.7 | Komatsu-Fukuoka flights were increased to 2 round trip flights per day.A three track system was introduced for Komatsu-Tokyo flights, thereby increasing the number of Komatsu-Tokyo round trip flights to 7 per day. |
| 1991.11 | Regular flights between Komatsu-Hiroshima were put into service. (Jetstream Super 31/ 19 Seater) |
| 1992.3 | The number of Komatsu-Hiroshima flights was increased to two round trip flights per day. Cathay Pacific Airline's charter flight is flown. (Komatsu-Hong Kong/ 3rd Airline to operate on this route; Tristar/ 281 Seater) |
| 1993.3 | The annual figure of passengers (domestic and international) reached 2000000. |
| 1993.4 | The number of Komatsu-Tokyo round-trip flights was increased again making it 8 round-trip flights per day.The number of Komatsu-Hiroshima flights was increased to three round trip flights per day. |
| 1995.2 | Regular flights between Komatsu-Niigata were put into service. (Jetstream Super 31/ 19 Seater; 3 round trips per week) |
| 1995.11 | Regular flights between Komatsu-Kagoshima were put into service. (Boeing 737/ 126 Seater; 4 round trips per week) |
| 1996.4 | The number of regular international cargo flights between Komatsu-Luxembourg was increased to 3 round trips per week.The extension and renovation work of New International passenger Terminal building was completed. |
| 1996.9 | Regular flights between Komatsu-Okayama were put into service. (SAAB 340 B/36 Seater; 2 round trips per day) The number of regular flights between Komatsu-Kagoshima was increased to 5 round trip flights per week (however, since there were 2 special round trip flights operating, in reality there was 1 round trip flight per day). |
| 1996.11 | Regular flights between Komatsu-Izumo were put into service. (Jetstream Super 31/19 Seater; 6 round trip flights per week)The number of regular flights between Komatsu-Hiroshima were reduced to 2 round trip flights per dayKomatsu-Niigata regular flight service was suspended. |
| 1997.7 | The number of Komatsu-Tokyo regular flights were increased to 9 round trip flights per day. |
| 1997.11 | The year-round operation of the regular flights between Komatsu-Sendai started.China Air International flew its charter flights to the destinations of Keirin and Beijing (It was the 17th foreign airline to fly a flight from Komatsu; Boeing 737-300/ 145 Seater) |
| 1997.12 | Regular flights between Komatsu-Takamatsu were put into service. (SAAB 340 B/ 36 Seater; 4 round trips per week)Regular flights between Komatsu-Matsuyama were put into service.(SAAB 340 B/ 36 Seater; 3 round trips per week)The number of regular flights between Komatsu-Okayama was reduced to 1 round trip per day. Harlequin Air's charter flight flew to Brisbane and Sydney. (7th domestic airline to operate a flight from Komatsu; DC 10-30/276 Seater) |
| 1998.6 | The number of regular flights between Komatsu-Matsuyama was increased to 4 round trips per week.Komatsu-Okayama regular flight service is suspended. |
| 1999.6 | Komatsu-Takamatsu regular flight service is suspended.Komatsu-Matsuyama regular flight service is suspended. |
| 2000.6 | The number of Komatsu-Fukuoka regular flights was increased to 3 round trips per day for a limited season (until September end).The regular flight service between Komatsu-Kagoshima was suspended for a limited season (until September end). |
| 2000.7 | The number of flights between Komatsu-Tokyo was increased to 11 round trips per day. |
| 2001.4 | The regular flight service between Komatsu-Izumo was discontinued. The regular flight service between Komatsu-Kagoshima was suspended for a limited season (till September end).The number of flights between Komatsu-Fukuoka was increased to 3 round trips per day for a limited season. (until September end).The number of regular flights between Komatsu-Hiroshima was reduced to 6 round trips per weekThe number of international cargo flights between Komatsu-Luxembourg was increased to 4 round trips per week (Flight started operating on Saturdays).The number of international regular flights between Komatsu-Seoul was increased to 3 round trips per week (Flight started operating on Wednesdays) |
| 2001.10 | The number of regular flights between Komatsu-Fukuoka was increased to 3 round trips per day. |
| 2002.4 | The regular flight service between Komatsu-Hiroshima was discontinued.The regular flight service between Komatsu-Kagoshima was suspended for a limited season (until October end). |
| 2002.6 | Construction of New International Air Cargo Terminal was completed. |
| 2004.4 | The number of regular international flights between Komatsu-Seoul was increased to 4 round trip flights per week (Flight started operating on Saturdays) |
| 2004.5 | The number of regular international air cargo flights between Komatsu-Luxembourg was increased to 5 round trip flights per week (Flight started operating on Sundays) |
| 2004.8 | ANA and Korean Air started joint operation of Komatsu-Seoul regular international flights. |
| 2004.11 | The regular flight service between Komatsu-Narita started. (Bombardier CRJ/50 Seater; 1 round trip per day)The regular flight service between Komatsu-Kagoshima was discontinued.Regular international flight service between Komatsu-Shanghai started. (A320-200/ 156 Seater; 2 round trips per week) |
| 2005.3 | Due to the level raising work on the runway, a temporary runway was put into service.Komatsu Airport's target year as FAZ (Foreign Access Zone) completed. |
| 2005.7 | Komatsu-Luxembourg International Air Cargo service on Thursday was suspended, thus operating 4 round trips per week. |
| 2005.11 | The number of regular international flights between Komatsu-Shanghai was increased to 3 round trips per week. |
| 2005.12 | The regular international flight service between Komatsu-Seoul (ANA) was suspended.The Korean Air started operating the regular international flight between Komatsu-Seoul (Boeing 737-900/ 187 Seater; 4 rounds trips per week) |
| 2006.3 | Komatsu-Luxembourg International Air Cargo service on Friday was suspended, thus operating 3 round trips per week. |
| 2006.10 | The main runway was put back into service as a result of the completion of its level raising work (the temporary runway was closed down). |
| 2007.5 | The construction of warehouse for domestic cargo at the new location was completed. A charter flight was operated by China Southern Airlines between Komatsu-Dairen. (30th Airline to operate a flight from Komatsu Airport. B737-500/132 Seater) |
| 2007.10 | The number of regular flights between Komatsu-Fukuoka was reduced to 2 round trips per day. |
| 2007.12 | Expansion construction on apron was completed. (It became possible to park 6 aircrafts) |
| 2008.4 | The number of regular international flights between Komatsu-Shanghai was increased to 4 round trips per week. |
| 2008.6 | EVA Air started operating regular flight service between Komatsu-Taipei (2 flights per week). |
| 2008.12 | SkyStar Airways begins charter service (Komatsu-Bangkok, 31st company, B767, 225-passenger seating capacity) |
| 2009.3 | Air Macau begins charter service (Komatsu-Macau, 32nd company, A321, 176-passenger seating capacity) |
| 2009.5 | Komatsu-Luxembourg regular international freight service, 1 weekly flight (Sunday), 2 weekly flights in case of cancellation |
| 2009.7 | Komatsu-Shizuoka regular flight service begins (E70, 60-passenger seating capacity, 2 daily flights) |
| 2009.9 | Komatsu-Sendai regular flight service begins via joint cooperation between IBEX Airways and ANA |
| 2009.11 | Komatsu-Sapporo regular flight service begins via joint cooperation between Hokkaido International Airlines (currently Air Do) and ANA |
| 2010.5 | Vietnam Airlines begins charter service (Komatsu-Hanoi, 33rd company, A321, 184-passenger seating capacity) |
| Komatsu-Luxembourg regular international freight service adds 1 flight service, increases to 3 weekly flights | |
| 2010.6 | Komatsu-Shizuoka regular flight service cancels 1 flight service, reduced to 1 daily flight |
| 2010.7 | Komatsu-Narita regular flight service adds 1 flight service, increases to 2 daily flights |
| 2010.11 | Hong Kong Express Airways begins charter service (Komatsu-Hong Kong, 34th company, B737, 164-passenger seating capacity) |
| 2011.1 | Komatsu-Shizuoka regular flight service reduced from 4 weekly flights (Mon.-Thurs.) to 3 weekly flights |
| 2011.3 | Komatsu-Shizuoka regular service canceled |
| 2011.1 | Komatsu-Taipei regular international flight service increases from 2 weekly flights to 4 weekly flights Komatsu-Luxembourg regular international freight service adds 1 flight service (via North America), increases to 4 weekly flights |
| 2011.12 | Delta Air Lines begins charter service (Komatsu-Honolulu, 35th company, A330-300, 292-passenger seating capacity) |
| 2012.9 | Komatsu-Taipei regular international flight service adds 1 flight service, increases to 5 weekly flights |
| 2012.11 | Jin Air begins charter service (Komatsu-Jeju, 36th company, B737-800, 189-passenger seating capacity) Eastar Jet begins charter service (Komatsu-Jeju, 37th company, B737-700, 149-passenger seating capacity) |
| 2012.12 | Komatsu-Taipei regular international flight service adds 2 flight services, increases to daily flights |
| 2013.3 | Komatsu-Tokyo Haneda regular flight service increased to 12 daily flights (period of Mar. 31, 2013 to Oct. 26, 2013) Komatsu-Fukuoka regular flight service adds 2 flight services, increases to 4 daily flights Komatsu-Sendai regular flight service adds 1 flight service, increases to 2 daily flights |
