Efforts to build an airport in northern Akita Prefecture began in the late 1980s. The airport site was decided in April 1989, and construction began in 1994. Odate–Noshiro Airport opened on 18 July 1998, with
Air Nippon services to
Tokyo Haneda Airport and
Osaka Itami Airport, and seasonal service to
Sapporo New Chitose Airport. Services to Sapporo were discontinued in November 1999 followed by services to Osaka in May 2010. From January 2011,
charter flight operations began to
Taiwan's
Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. The airport is located in northern Akita Prefecture, primarily serving the city of
Noshiro and the surrounding region, which includes tourist destinations such as
Shirakami-Sanchi,
Lake Towada, and
Towada-Hachimantai National Park. The airport terminal building makes extensive use of the local
Akita cedar wood. However, the low local population density and competition from the
Akita Shinkansen and its proximity to the nearby
Aomori Airport have limited profitable airline operations. == Facilities ==