Narita airport operator works out action plan against new influenza

Saturday 27th December, 09:47 AM JST

TOKYO —

The operator of Narita International Airport has outlined an action plan to interdict the inflow of new types of influenza, sources close to the plan said Saturday. The action plan compiled by Narita International Airport Corp calls for ensuring the safety of passengers and airport officials by stockpiling 10,000 pills of the anti-flu drug Tamiflu and 50,000 flu masks, the sources said. To ensure smooth runway operations continue in the event a new type of flu breaks out at the airport, the action plan proposes training more airport officials tasked with guiding airplanes.

The airport’s basic operations will be maintained even in the event of an outbreak, the action plan says, citing the need to admit passengers on planes flying from infected countries and expedite rescue operations using airplanes such as airlifting of aid goods. The action plan also recommends the airport operator ensure methods to raise money, such as bank borrowings, in response to a possible large revenue decline if a pandemic continues for a long time, the sources said. A new flue is said to take at least one year to run its course after detection