KOBE (Kyodo) Kobe said Thursday its new airport, which opened last week, will continue to generate profits for the next 10 years because landing and takeoff fees from airlines are expected to rise due to increased use of large aircraft.
The city said the airport will see a profit of 115 million yen in fiscal 2006. But many observers question the rosy forecast because of the recent spike in oil prices -- which has hurt the airlines -- and the presence of two other major airports serving nearby Osaka.
Kobe airport's main source of revenue is landing and takeoff fees from airlines, part of which will be used to cover maintenance, personnel and other operational costs. The larger the aircraft, the higher the fees.