FAQs and Answers about the Environment around Osaka Itami Airport

Q. Tell me about the flight routes of the airplanes landing at and taking off from Osaka Itami Airport. (Why are some airplanes flying different routes than usual?)

A. Airplanes taking off from Osaka Itami Airport head toward the direction of Itami City and Kawanishi City, where the planes gain altitude while making a circle and then take an eastward or westward direction.
Airplanes landing at Osaka Itami Airport usually enter a runway straight from the direction of Osaka City and Toyonaka City. (Fig. 1)
Depending on the wind direction, airplanes may take off or come in from the opposite direction. For taking off and landing, airplanes usually move against the wind to ensure flight safety. So, it is necessary for airplanes to change direction when there is a strong southeast wind (tail wind). (The annual rate of airplaines taking off/coming in from a reverse course in the past few years is around 2%.)
For the reversed course, airplanes come in from the direction of Itami City, Takarazuka City and Kawanishi City and take off toward the direction of Osaka City and Toyonaka City. These flight operations tend to be seen often from spring to summer and when a typhoon passes. (Fig. 2)
From such reasons, airplaines may fly over areas that are not in flight routes in order to ensure flight safety. We ask for your kind understanding.

* The above map shows conceptual flight courses; it does not indicate the range of flights.

Q. I want to know about noise levels in the areas around Osaka Itami Airport.

A. In the areas around Osaka Itami Airport, aircraft noise is monitored at Kansai Airports’ 10 continuous monitoring stations.
For more details, see here.

Q. Tell me about the operating hours of Osaka Itami Airport. (In what situations do airplanes take off or land outside the operating hours?)

A. The operating hours of Osaka Itami Airport are regulated to 14 hours from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. However, flights taking off and landing after 9:00 p.m. may be permitted in a situation where there are flight delays due to bad weather and other reasons. In the event of an emergency situation, in addition, small planes and helicopters—including those for police and the media and those for organ transport—may take off or land at the airport outside the operating hours.

Q. I want to know about the environmental measures being taken around Osaka Itami Airport.

A. Osaka Itami Airport has been implementing environmental measures to reduce aircraft noise and improve the living environment in the airport’s neighboring communities.
For more details, see here.