Extended Narita runway B is now operational

The newly extended runway B at Narita is finally open today. As reported earlier, Japan Airlines' charter flight to Hokodate was the first airplane to use to extended runway.

There were ribbon cutting ceremony at the gate. Shortly after 7AM, the JAL 744 took off heading for Hokodate. Locals and officials were watching close to the runway.

Now that large airplanes can finally land and takeoff on runway B, which is much closer to JAL's terminal 2 (airport map). Hopefully JAL can better utilize runway B and save some fuel wasted during taxi whenever possible. Runway A is so far away from T2 and I usually fell into sleep while my plane was taxiing to the runway :P

Sources: Japan Today (with Picture), iStockAnalyst