Rishiri Airport

Rishiri Airport is an airport in Rishirifuji, Hokkaidō, Japan, near the town of Rishiri on Rishiri Island.

History

Rishiri Airport opened in 1962 with a 600-meter runway, the airport underwent significant development over the years. In 1974, the runway was extended to 800 meters, enabling Nihon Kinkyori Airways to begin year-round service to Wakkanai Airport. By 1994, flight operations to Wakkanai were transferred to Air Hokkaido. In 1999, with the construction of a new 1,800-meter runway designed for larger jet aircraft, Air Nippon began seasonal summer flights to New Chitose Airport in Sapporo.
In 2003, flights to Wakkanai were discontinued, and flights to New Chitose became year-round services. However, in 2011, Hokkaido Air System opened flights to Sapporo Okadama Airport, leading to a shift in operations. As a result, flights to New Chitose Airport were reduced to a seasonal service, operating only during the summer months.
In current operations, the airport sees a year-round connection to Okadama Airport, operated by Hokkaido Air System ATR 42-600 turboprop aircraft. But also a seasonal connection to New Chitose Airport, operated by ANA Wings with Bombardier Q400 aircraft.