On August 25, Japan Airport Building Corporation and JAL held a press preview of the “North Satellite” at Haneda Airport’s Terminal 1.
The North Satellite was built to provide alternative parking spots while seismic retrofitting work is underway at the main apron, as well as to accommodate future increases in demand; it houses parking spots 24 through 29. Like the North Satellite of Terminal 2 (spots 47 through 52), it extends the terminal building in a north-northwesterly direction.
Specifically, after getting off an express bus or similar, enter the terminal building and turn right; go through Skymark’s Security Checkpoint G, then continue to the far right. It is connected by a connecting walkway approximately 200 meters past the former Gate 24 (now decommissioned).
The North Satellite itself is approximately 350 meters long, and the connecting walkway is about 200 meters long. Since it is about 220 meters from Security Checkpoint G to the end of the existing facility, the total distance to the far end of the North Satellite is just under 800 meters. In fact, when I walked from the starting point of the connecting walkway to the area in front of Gate 29 using the moving walkway, it took me 5 and a half minutes even at a fairly brisk pace, so it’s best to allow at least 10 minutes from the security checkpoint.
This is the first major expansion of Terminal 1 since it opened in September 1993, and the North Satellite will begin operations on September 1.
Another distinctive feature of the North Satellite Building is its hybrid structure, which combines a steel frame on the first floor with wood in the second floor and above; approximately 10,000 logs of domestically sourced larch and cedar were used as structural materials. This is said to have contributed to reducing CO2 emissions during construction.
In addition, because the distance from the starting point to the far end is long, the facility has introduced autonomous mobility vehicles such as “iino” and “WHILL,” which anyone can use for free starting from the beginning of the connecting walkway.
Located roughly halfway through the North Satellite, the “FOREST LOUNGE” serves as both a café and a credit card lounge open to the public. It is free for eligible credit cardholders; even without a card, adults can use the lounge for 1,320 yen (children 660 yen; free for children 3 and under). The lounge has 22 seats.
© Source travel watch