The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) in Japan has reportedly chosen a consortium of companies to operate seven airports in Hokkaido.
The move is part of a bundled concession project by MLIT, Asahikawa, Obihiro and Hokkaido to jointly outsource New Chitose, Wakkanai, Kushiro, Hakodate, Asahikawa, Obihiro and Memanbetsu airports to the private sector.
The consortium is led by Hokkaido Airport Terminal and includes Mitsubishi Estate, Tokyu Corp., the Development Bank of Japan, the North Pacific Bank, and Hokkaido Electric Power Co., according to The Japan Times.
The consortium could begin operating the airports in stages, starting as early as next year. It is expected to conclude a 30-year contract on the airport operations as early as October.
