Tokyo's Haneda Airport reopened the International Flight Area in Terminal 2 on Wednesday. That section of the terminal was shut down, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Terminal 2 is one of Haneda Airport's domestic terminals. The International Flight Area was opened in March of 2020 to increase the number of international flights at the airport.

But the pandemic forced airport authorities to close the area just two weeks after it started operating.

After that, only Terminal 3 was used for international flights. The airport's operator decided to reopen the International Flight Area because demand for international flights has been increasing.

At around 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday, travelers visited check-in counters one after another. Automated check-in is available at two-thirds of the area's 38 counters. Luggage can be automatically checked in as well.

A 34-year-old man bound for Hong Kong said he has a feeling that more overseas tourists are coming to visit Japan.

He welcomed the reopening of the International Flight Area. He said it makes it easier to transit between the international and domestic flight sections.

According to All Nippon Airways, which uses the terminal, the number of international flights at Haneda Airport has returned to pre-pandemic levels.

But for the time being, the International Flight Area is only open 8.5 hours a day. It closes at 1:30 p.m. A shortage of airport staff members, who can carry out baggage inspections, is among the reasons cited.

ANA President Inoue Shinichi said demand for international flights has finally gone up.

He added that the number of international flights at Haneda Airport can be increased, now that the International Flight Area has been reopened.