Sapporo Okadama Airport Bldg. Co., Ltd. held a propeller-plane sightseeing flight over the Shakotan Peninsula and Lake Shikotsu in the city of Chitose on November 28, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the airport building’s opening, which will occur in February 2022. During the flight, 40 participants enjoyed magnificent views of Hokkaido from the sky.

The tour was planned by the company in collaboration with Hokkaido Air System (HAC) and travel agencies. A total of 296 people from within Hokkaido and beyond applied to take part in the tour, which had a capacity of forty.

The sightseeing flight was conducted using one of HAC’s propeller-driven ATR42-600 aircraft (capacity of 48). To make it easier to view the scenery, the aircraft flew at a slower speed of 350 kilometers per hour and at a height of around 2,500 meters, about half the normal altitude. The participants were able to see the views through the windows, and eagerly took photos and videos during the flight. “I could see Lake Toya clearly. It seemed pretty big,” said a female participant from Sapporo.