TOKYO, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- Kansai International Airport in Japan will resume some domestic flight services on Friday after it was paralyzed by a powerful typhoon days ago.
On Tuesday, Typhoon Jebi flooded the airport's runways and terminal buildings which are located on a man-made island.
The typhoon's powerful gusts also ripped a tanker from its moorings and flung it into a bridge that connects the airport and the mainland, leaving thousands of passengers and staff stranded at the airport.
Having confirmed that both a runway and the second terminal are safe, the airport's operator, Kansai Airports, gave the green light for domestic flights to resume services on Friday.
The airport said that 19 flights, including 17 by budget carrier Peach Aviation and two by Japan Airlines, are scheduled for Friday, with the first departing just before midday.
This compares to the airport's regular daily capacity of around 70 domestic flights and some 200 international flights per day.
The decision as to when the airport's international flight service will resume remains pending, local media reported Friday morning.
As for the damaged bridge which connects the airport with the mainland, the airport said that while private cars are still being restricted, traffic by some vehicles has been resumed although train services remain suspended.
Special shuttle bus services to and from the Nankai Electric Railway and the West Japan Railway stations on the mainland have been made available and the airport is encouraging passengers to use these.
In addition, Kansai Airports is also advising passengers to use the high-speed ferryboats that connect it with Kobe Airport.
