The Churashima Air Festival was held on December 8, 2024, at Naha International Airport, Japan. The Air Festival has gathered people to this popular travel destination, Okinawa, all to witness the excellent line-up of JASDF’s front-line forces.
Naha International Airport serves as the key airport for Japan’s Okinawa. Naha is an operating base for several Japanese airlines including All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan Airlines (JAL), and Ryukyu Air Commuter.
The airport is serviced to various domestic routes all over Japan and has worldwide flights to most Asian cities, including South Korean, Taiwanese, Chinese, and Southeast Asian cities. The Airport existed during the early 20th century and has experienced numerous expansions and developments ever since.
Naha International Airport has long been a major military base, especially during and after World War II, due to the strategic location of Okinawa.
Naha houses the F-15J, Mitsubishi T-4, as well as the E-2 Hawkeye from the Japan Air Self-Defence Force and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Inventory, as the neighboring country China often flies into close proximity to Japanese Air Space, fighters stationed here often scramble to intercept these traffic, racking up the fighter’s flight hours.
Like many other air festivals in Japan, the Blue Impulse Aerobatic Team was one of the show’s highlights. It was established in 1960 and has a base of operation at Matsushima Air Base, Miyagi Prefecture. Blue Impulse is famous for its spectacular flying acts that showcase its precision flight capabilities and coordination between its aviators.
