JAPAN's Sendai Airport, the largest airport in the Tohoku region, has resumed full international services after its runways were covered with debris from March tsunami.

    Asiana Airlines was the first carrier to re-launch services, reported Newark's Journal of Commerce, adding that Continental Airlines will follow with a restarting Sendai-Guam service on October 2.

    Other resuming Asian flights include those providing the Sendai-Taipei service on October 25 and the Sendai-Beijing service in March.

    "Sendai Airport has risen like a phoenix," said Japanese transport minister Takeshi Maeda at the reopening ceremony.

    Miyagi Governor Yoshihiro Murai said reopening the airport would facilitate the restoration of international trade that is vital to the redevelopment of the Tohoku region.

    Sendai Airport has re-commenced its regular domestic and international charter services since July. The airport handled 13,901 tons of cargo in fiscal 2009 ending March 2010, comprising 12,642 tons on domestic flights and 1,439 tons on global services.

(source:http://www.shippingonline.cn/news/newsList.asp?classname=News)