Town gives OK to Kansai airport traffic

OSAKA -- The legislature of Kaizuka, Osaka Prefecture, voted Monday to adopt a resolution allowing flights to and from New Kansai International Airport to pass over the city, even though local residents had adamantly rejected the idea.

The approval came during an extraordinary session of the assembly. Similar resolutions were expected from the assemblies of Izumisano, Hannan and Kumatori the same day.

As a result, all 13 cities and towns taking part in a group debating the airport issue were expected to give the go-ahead to allow the use of airspace above them for approaching and departing aircraft.

This will move the construction of the airport's second runway a step closer to its target date at the end of the current fiscal year, March 1999, according to sources close to the program.

The issue of allowing the airspace to be used has been a hurdle in the proposed construction because many residents had expressed concern over increased aircraft noise and other factors.

Kaizuka Mayor Izamu Yoshimichi said the Osaka Prefectural Government had pledged to conduct assessments of noise levels every three months, and intensive monitoring of sound levels would be carried out when the new runway begins operations.