It has 30 million passengers a year, but this famous airport is sinking into the sea

Kansai International Airport, one of Japan's largest airports that processes over 30 million passengers a year, is facing an unusual risk - it is gradually sinking into the sea.

Built on two artificial islands in Osaka Bay and at a cost of over $19 billion, the airport celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2024.

Designed to withstand seismic activity, including runways that bend during earthquakes to avoid cracking, this airport has also received prestigious awards, such as "Airport with the Best Baggage Handling in the World," thanks to its extraordinary record - it has not lost a single piece of luggage in 30 years.

But despite its technology and reputation, the airport is facing serious challenges.

Since its inauguration, it has sunk over 11.5 meters, due to the heavy weight it exerts on the base of clay and soft sea sand. Engineers had predicted a sinking of about 8 meters within 50 years, but this figure has already been exceeded.

In 2018, during Typhoon Jebi, the airport was temporarily closed after it was flooded and the bridge connecting it to the mainland was damaged. Since then, measures such as the construction of protective walls have been taken to prepare for future flooding.

However, despite the challenges, Kansai Airport has renovated Terminal 1 to handle the expected influx of visitors for Expo 2025 in Osaka, which opens on April 13. Management has stated that it will continue to adapt to the increase in demand and offer new travel experiences.

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