Overview
- The special measure took effect in October and permits qualified foreign workers to drive certain airside vehicles using foreign licenses.
- It applies to equipment used for cargo movement and aircraft towing within airport operational areas.
- Permission is granted only when specified requirements are met, reflecting controls tailored to airside conditions rather than public roads.
- MLIT says it considered differences from public-road driving and hopes the policy helps ease persistent staffing shortfalls.
- Airlines report hiring bottlenecks due to slow foreign‑to‑Japanese license conversion processes as the number of Specified Skilled Worker visa holders rises.