A jetliner flies low over the houses of landowners opposed to the southward extension of a runway at Narita International Airport.

Narita International Airport Corp. said it failed to persuade the owners of 3.8 hectares located south of the second runway to sell their land.

The airport operator and the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry will seek acceptance of the northward extension from the affected municipal governments and residents in Chiba Prefecture before giving the go-ahead to the extension by month's end.

The municipalities and residents, particularly those living north of the runway, have voiced concerns about noise pollution if the runway is extended in their direction, but both the airport operator and the ministry voiced confidence that they could be persuaded to accept the extension.

The Japan Times Weekly: July 23, 2005
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