Narita Airport near Tokyo is having a hectic day on Sunday, as the number of people leaving for international destinations during the spring holiday season reaches its peak.
The departure lobby was already packed early in the morning with families lugging large suitcases up to the check-in counters.
The operator of the airport estimates that on Sunday alone 56,900 passengers will board international flights. And it projects the total from Friday through May 10 to reach 1.594 million, up over 30,000 from spring holidays last year.
The company says amid strained relations with Beijing and the situation surrounding Iran, there are fewer flights to China and the Middle East. But it says there are actually more flights to South Korea and Taiwan, as people opt for locations closer to home.
One college student said she’s taking her first solo trip abroad, and is looking forward to swimming with whale sharks in the Philippines. A woman in her 30s said she is travelling with her husband to Bangkok, where she hopes to enjoy the food and a massage. She added that they are taking the opportunity to travel now, before fuel surcharges get too high.
The airport is expecting to see the peak of people returning from their spring trips on May 6.
AloJapan.com