Major airlines plan to withdraw from local air services or reduce the number of local flights. Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways, facing high fuel cost in recent years, have tried to make up for the rising costs by raising air fares on both domestic and international routes, but this has led to a decrease in the number of tourist passengers. The airlines have no alternative but to concentrate on air routes with high profitability. They also face competition from discount airlines.
Local governments affected by the airlines' plans are upset and worried because closing air-routes and the reducing the number of flights will affect their economies. They should make stronger efforts to attract tourists and visitors, including those from neighboring countries, to sightseeing spots. They can offer subsidies to those who arrive by air and encourage them to share taxis.
After the economic bubble burst in the late 1980s, JAL and ANA abolished most of their international air routes originating at local airports in Japan. But they could be losing an opportunity to make profits. Chinese and South Korean airlines have started air services to these local airports. In 2007, the opening of air routes to local airports within Japan to foreign airlines was liberalized in principle. Many Chinese and South Korean tourists now use them. By using suitable aircraft, Japanese airlines could also open international air routes from local airports.