A: Hey there! Did you catch the news about Narita Airport?
B: Nope, what's up?

A: They started building a third runway and extending one of the current ones! Isn't that cool?
B: Really? How's that going to help?

A: Well, they want to increase the number of flights from 500,000 per year, which is about 1.7 times the current level.
B: Wow, that's a big leap! What else did they say?

A: They've already started some prep work like building an underground tunnel for roads on the site. And the actual construction has begun where the third runway will be built.
B: Sounds like they're serious about this expansion.

A: Yeah, their boss said it'll create a new future for that area and they promise to do it safely with the community's understanding. They've already secured most of the land they need too.
B: That's impressive! I wonder how long it will take?

A: They aim to finish by March 2029, so it'll be a long project but exciting to see!
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A ceremony has been held at Narita Airport, near Tokyo, to mark the start of full-scale construction work to extend one of the current runways and build a third one.



Seventy people, including transport ministry officials and the governor of Chiba Prefecture, attended Sunday's event held by Narita International Airport Corporation.



The company plans to extend the 2,500-meter-long B Runway to 3,500 meters, and to build a new 3,500-meter C Runway to raise the number of takeoffs and landings to 500,000 per year -- about 1.7 times the current level. It aims to complete the project by the end of March 2029.



The preparatory work that has already been carried out includes the construction of an underground tunnel for the roads on the site. Full-scale construction, including ground improvement work and landscaping, has begun at the site where the third runway will be built.



The head of Narita International Airport Corporation, Tamura Akihiko, said he believes the expansion will create a new future for the area and that his firm will carry out the work safely and smoothly with the local community's understanding.



The company says it has already secured 900 of the approximately 1,100 hectares of land needed for the project, and is working with local municipalities to acquire more.