New International Terminal at Naha Airport now open!

International Departures Naha

If you’ve used the International terminal in Naha before you’ll be breating a big sigh of relief that the new terminal is now open and you no longer have to tolerate the cramped conditions of the previous shed.

The new terminal is located to the right of the old one a bit further away from the domestic terminal than previously. Currently the plan is to demolish the old terminal then link them together which will make transfers much easier (and drier).

Tourist Shops in International Terminal of Naha Airport

The terminal is light and airy with a total of eight tenants comprising of a convenience store on the ground floor, a couple of tourist shops before security as well as a restaurant and then some snack bars after security as well as DFS duty free. There’s also an airline lounge which now is AFTER security and not before meaning you can truly relax rather than worrying about having to get through security and immigration after you’ve spent time in the lounge.

It’s a massive step up from the previous building with airbridges now available meaning that hopefully we’ve seen the last of bus transfers in the rain.

The only small negatives, if we’re being picky, is that there isn’t much food choice after security, just snacks and drinks really so if you want to eat before you fly do so in the more substantial pre security restaurant. Also they STILL only allow baggage drop and check in two hours before a flight, so don’t plan on getting there early!

I thought this used to be due to the old terminal being too small to handle baggage from all the airlines at one time, but now there should be no excuse. What it means is that you can get large tour groups congesting the entrance to check in which is quite small and walled off by glass waiting to check in. I don’t see why they couldn’t arrange to have some check in desks open for early check ins from three hours before.