As Kansai International Airport prepared to partially reopen its Terminal 1 building Friday, with the main runway soon to follow, efforts were moving forward Thursday at nearby Kobe and Itami airports to accept new domestic and international flights.

Kansai airport's Terminal 1 and the main runway had been closed since Typhoon Jebi ripped through the region early last week, causing massive flooding at the air hub. Some flights since late last week have operated from the undamaged Terminal 2 while flying in and out of the facility's other runway. Kansai airport officials said Thursday that final preparations were being made to open some domestic routes out of Terminal 1 on Friday morning, saying that the main runway was also ready to begin operations.

Actual use of the main runway could take a few days, however, as it depends on repair work to deal with the damaged bridge that connects the airport to the mainland. A large floating crane being used in the operation lies close enough to one end of the main runway that it is a risk to flights. .