Int'l passengers via Japan's Kansai airport in 2015 reach record high

The number of passengers on international flights via Japan's Kansai International Airport in 2015 reached a new record high due to increasing LCC (low-cost carrier) flights from China and other Asian countries, said the New Kansai International Airport Co., Ltd. on Monday.

According to a preliminary report released by the airport operator on Monday, the number of passengers via the airport reached a record high of 23.21 million in 2015, up by 20 percent year on year and surpassing the former record of 20.49 million in 2000 by 2.72 million.

Among them, the number of passengers on international flights via the airport reached a record high of 16.25 million, up by 24 percent compared to the previous year. The number of foreign passengers reached 10.01 million, up by 59 percent year on year.

Meanwhile, the number of Japanese passengers on international flights fell to 6.07 million, down by 6 percent year on year, as the yen's depreciation discouraged Japanese from traveling overseas.

Kansai International Airport serves as an international hub in western Japan. It sends over 1200 international flights to 24 countries and regions every week.