In an effort to maintain flight service from Kagoshima to Shanghai, Kagoshima Prefecture sent the first group of public servants to Shanghai for an on-site training session on July 10. The group was accompanied by Governor Ito and several local business leaders. At a press conference in Shanghai, Governor Ito announced plans to dispatch 2,000 people from the public and private sectors to Shanghai during the fiscal year, including 300 training program participants. An official from China Eastern Airlines requested additional support for tourists from Shanghai and reduced landing fees at Kagoshima Airport. With this 2,000-person plan, the Prefecture expects to boost ridership from the current 40% to 60%—the level at which the air service becomes profitable. There were 22 training program participants in the initial group, and they were divided into two courses, agriculture and civil engineering. According to a Food Safety Section official, they visited farms and harbor facilities to “gain an understanding of Shanghai as an export destination for agricultural produce.” All seven prefectures in Kyushu provide subsidies to airport companies to attract international routes, and competition is intensifying, all while Fukuoka Airport is attracting most of the services. Meanwhile some officials question how much public money should be used to entice international air carriers to use regional airports. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun, July 11
