Kansai Airport said it will double the capacity of its air cargo terminal in plans made by the airport operating firm for the second phase of construction, The Yomiuri Shimbun reported.

The airport, located on an artificial island in Izumisano, Osaka Prefecture, is set to open its second runway on Aug. 2.

Second phase construction plans were first drawn up in December 1995 and revised in July 2001 to reduce construction costs due to Kansai International Airport Co.’s massive deficits and because demand for the airport was lower than expected. The revised plan limits construction to only the second runway and a taxiway connecting the airport’s terminal to the second runway.

According to the plan, the cargo terminal will be expanded to double its current capacity, up to 340,000 square meters, to accommodate expected increases in air cargo. The airport firm expects the airport will handle more than 2 million tonnes of cargo annually 10 years from now, about 2.5 times more than the current volume.