Nishinoomote, JP 🇯🇵 Closed Airport
JP-1823
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- ft
JP-46
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: 30.72669° N, 131.07289° E
Continent: AS
Type: Closed Airport
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The airport ceased operations on or around March 15, 2006. It was officially replaced by the New Tanegashima Airport (IATA: TNE, ICAO: RJFG), which commenced operations on March 16, 2006.
The closure was a planned replacement for modernization and capacity expansion. Anno Airfield, then known as Tanegashima Airport, had a relatively short runway (1,500 meters) that could only accommodate turboprop aircraft. The new airport was constructed with a longer runway (2,000 meters) to allow for jet aircraft operations, thereby improving service reliability, increasing passenger capacity, and boosting tourism and economic access to the island.
The site is permanently closed to all aviation. While the runway and taxiways are still physically visible on satellite imagery, they are unmaintained and not in use for aircraft. A significant portion of the former airport grounds, particularly the area where the terminal and apron were located, has been redeveloped. A private high school, Cosmo Gakuen (コスモ学院), now occupies the site. The remaining runway surface is reportedly used for non-aviation purposes like driver training or vehicle testing.
Opened in 1962, Anno Airfield was the sole air gateway to Tanegashima Island for over 40 years and was originally known simply as Tanegashima Airport. It was a vital piece of infrastructure connecting the remote island to the Japanese mainland, with regular flights to Kagoshima and Osaka. The airport primarily handled turboprop aircraft, most famously the NAMC YS-11, operated by carriers such as Toa Domestic Airlines (TDA), which later became Japan Air System (JAS). It played a crucial role in the island's economy, supporting local residents, tourism, and providing logistical access for the nearby Tanegashima Space Center.
There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Anno Airfield for aviation purposes. The island's air transportation needs are fully and more effectively served by the New Tanegashima Airport, which is located approximately 8 kilometers north of the old site. The redevelopment of a portion of the land for an educational institution makes any future return to aviation activities extremely unlikely.
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