Justice Minister Masahiko Komura indicated Wednesday that he wants to increase the number of customs, immigration and quarantine staff at smaller airports to allow foreign air carriers to service them.
Komura made the comment in talks with Fukushima Gov. Eisaku Sato at the Justice Ministry, according to government officials.
"Nationwide, we are running short of immigration staff," Komura was quoted as telling Sato.
"Along with those prefectures (that wish to increase such staff), we must take steps to increase immigration staff."
Sato specifically asked Komura for an increase in immigration, customs and quarantine staff at Fukushima airport so that the number of flights to Seoul can be increased to seven per week from the current five. The minister simply said, however, that it would be "extremely difficult" to increase staff at Fukushima.
Komura instead proposed that Fukushima explore the possibility of using larger aircraft to accommodate more passengers on the route.
South Korean and other East Asian carriers have increasingly been requesting new or expanded direct services to regional cities in Japan.
For flights out of Seoul, Japanese and South Korean officials have agreed in bilateral aviation talks to let airlines begin services to Akita and Miyazaki as well as Yonago in Tottori Prefecture and Izumo in Shimane Prefecture.
But the services have yet to get off the ground due to the lack of immigration, customs and quarantine staff.