Low-altitude flights over Tokyo struggle to take hold amid pandemic

Monday marked the first anniversary of the introduction of low-altitude flight routes over central Tokyo to and from Haneda Airport. The new routes, however, have not been used as frequently as the government had initially hoped, reflecting a plunge in air travel demand amid the coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, the central government is currently considering introducing measures to alleviate noise pollution, including altering the fight routes, after receiving nearly 6,000 complaints about noise and other issues caused by aircraft. Accompanied by a deafening roar, an airplane flew over houses and commercial facilities near Oimachi Station in Tokyo's Shinagawa Ward one afternoon in late March. The wheels and the registration number on the main wing of the aircraft, which was flying around 300 meters above ground, were discernible to the naked eye. The routes were introduced in March last year to increase the number of international flights using the airport.<br/>