Skyports Wins Nine AAM Subsidy Projects Across Japan in 2026

Skyports Infrastructure has secured nine Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) subsidy projects across six Japanese prefectures for 2026, achieving a 100 percent success rate on its applications for the year.

Announced in a company press release on September 15, 2026, the project wins span Osaka, Hyogo, Oita, Yamanashi, Shizuoka, and Mie prefectures. The geographic spread indicates a shift in the Japanese AAM market from Commercial-Aircraft development milestones toward the practical Manufacturing and commercial planning required to launch passenger services.

Regional Infrastructure and Feasibility Projects

The nine projects involve Partnerships with major Japanese corporations to evaluate vertiport locations, commercial feasibility, and network integration. In Hyogo Prefecture alone, Skyports and Kanematsu Corporation will lead four separate projects covering Sumoto City on Awaji Island, Kinosaki Onsen, the Kobe Waterfront, and Arima Onsen.

In Osaka, the two companies are developing the basic design and business case for a future maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in Osaka City, alongside vertiport candidate site evaluations. Further east, Skyports is working to integrate a vertiport around the Linear Chuo Shinkansen station in Yamanashi Prefecture, while partnering with Suzuyo Corporation for business feasibility and site surveys in the Shizuoka City area.

Strategic Partnerships in Mie and Oita

The subsidy wins follow a series of regional agreements established earlier in the year. On August 3, 2026, Skyports and Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd. announced their selection for a feasibility study in Mie Prefecture. This project, which also includes Ise-Shima Resort Management Co., explores an air taxi network across the Chubu and Kansai regions. The study evaluates passenger demand, flight routes, and the integration of AAM infrastructure with existing rail, road, marine transport, and airport facilities.

In southwestern Japan, Oita Prefecture formalized a partnership agreement with Skyports on September 2, 2026. Working alongside Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu), the Oita project focuses on commercial feasibility studies and identifying potential vertiport locations. Oita Prefecture officials expect AAM vehicles to address vulnerabilities in regional transportation infrastructure and are targeting commercial operations by 2028.

Masashi Taruta, Japan Country Manager at Skyports Infrastructure, stated that securing the projects is a strong endorsement of the company’s expertise in the region.

“From Osaka and Hyogo to Oita, Yamanashi, Shizuoka and Mie, we’re working alongside some of Japan’s leading companies to turn AAM ambitions into credible, deliverable infrastructure plans,” Taruta said. “The breadth of these projects demonstrates the momentum building across Japan, and we’re proud to be a trusted partner helping lay the foundations for future commercial operations.”

AirPro News analysis

We view Skyports’ 100 percent application success rate as a clear indicator of the Japanese government’s commitment to accelerating AAM deployment. By distributing subsidies across six distinct prefectures rather than concentrating them in a single metropolitan hub, local authorities are fostering a decentralized approach to early AAM adoption. The involvement of established domestic entities like JR Kyushu and Mitsui Fudosan suggests that vertiport infrastructure will be heavily integrated into existing transit and real estate networks, rather than operating as standalone Airports facilities.

Sources: Skyports Infrastructure