Transport minister Seiji Maehara on Oct. 12 indicated his wish to turn Tokyo's Haneda airport into a hub for international flights, an idea that if realized would represent a major shift in the government's long-standing policy of routing most Tokyo-bound international flights to Narita airport.

"There is no hub airport in Japan," Maehara said. "With Narita serving international (flights) and Haneda domestic, South Korea's Incheon airport has become the hub airport for Japan."

Maehara noted the need for addressing the current situation of the aviation market surrounding Japan where Incheon airport near Seoul is increasingly used by Japanese travelers flying from provincial airports in Japan.

As one step to counter this trend, Maehara indicated eliminating the policy of routing most international flights bound for Tokyo to Narita International Airport in Chiba Prefecture and most domestic flights to Haneda airport, officially known as Tokyo International Airport, in the capital.