This month, Tokyo's Haneda airport returns to scheduled international flight operations for the first time in 32 years as part of the government's goal to turn the offshore facility into a 24-hour hub to compete with global competition and boost the economy.
Haneda had been long relegated to domestic flights when Narita International Airport opened in Chiba Prefecture in the 1970s, although Haneda is much more conveniently accessible from central Tokyo.
Experts commend the return of Haneda, or Tokyo International Airport, to international operations, and airlines see opportunity in being able to offer services closer to central Tokyo. But Haneda is not without its drawbacks, including expensive landing fees, flight path restrictions and the question of future expansion.