International passengers via Japan's Kansai airport reach record high

The number of passengers on international flights at Japan's Kansai International Airport reached a new record high due to increasing flights to China and other Asian countries, local media reported on Sunday.

According to a report issued by the New Kansai International Airport Co., Ltd. on Friday, the number of passengers on international flights at the airport reached a record high of 7.56 million in first half of year 2015, rising by 21 percent year on year.

Among them, the number of foreign passengers rose by 58 percent year on year, reaching 4.58 million, while the number of Japanese passengers on international flights fell by 8 percent, said the report.

The record came on a substantial growth in the number of Asian flights, especially Chinese flights. The number of Chinese tourists via Kansai Airport increased by over 100 percent year on year respectively in February, March and April, said the report.

Kansai International Airport serves as an international hub in western Japan. It currently sends 1029 international flights to 24 countries and regions every week, about 400 of which are to Chinese mainland.