Originally Posted by
rationalfunctions
ITM is domestic only, despite it's name, and operates near capacity so unlikely to take up the slack. UKB could be a viable alternative for a proportion of KIX international traffic
Wasn't Itami Japan's only international airport, a long time ago? I have a feeling that the Osaka Tokyo bullet train line was built for the Olympics instead of building an airport near Tokyo. That was a good investment.
Kobe is indeed domestic only, but has been anxious to pinch some of KIX's traffic and is a lot closer to the Shinkansen line. Osaka wants to close Itami, and put more domestic traffic through KIX. Airlines like Itami because it is so close to central Osaka and popular with passengers as a result. People who live near Itami want it closed. KIX has two biggish runways and no noise issues. Lots of competing factors!