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Japan steps up support for stranded travelers at airports

posted on Tuesday, April 20, 2010 01:26 AM

Japan stepped up support yesterday for foreign travelers who have been stranded in the country following a volcanic eruption in Iceland, with local governments dispatching nurses and organizing excursions and Narita airport handing out free hamburgers for 170 people.

The operator of Japan’s main international airport in Chiba Prefecture, which has been providing stranded foreign passengers with sleeping bags, water and snacks, also made its five paid waiting rooms, with a total floor space of 160 square meters, available as sleeping rooms free of charge, and began distributing tickets for free shower-room use.

The Chiba prefectural government dispatched community nurses to the airport to offer heath counseling, while the municipal government of Narita started a free day trip with meals to local tourist spots and a shopping mall to give the passengers a break. About 20 people participated in Monday’s trip, the city said.

Meanwhile, the transport ministry said it will open service windows at Narita and Kansai international airport, another key international airport in Japan, to better provide necessary services for foreign travelers, such as introducing reasonable accommodation.

A total of about 150 passengers were trapped at the two airports as of Sunday, according to the ministry. The authorities said these supportive measures will be available until the situation is settled.

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