New Ishigaki Airport is a regional airport serving Ishigaki Island in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan's Yaeyama Islands. It replaced the former Ishigaki Airport, which was located closer to the city center, and opened in 2013 to accommodate larger aircraft and increased passenger demand. The airport handles domestic routes primarily to major Japanese hubs including Naha, Tokyo, and Osaka, as well as some international charter and scheduled services to destinations in East Asia. It serves as a key access point for tourists visiting Ishigaki and the surrounding Yaeyama island chain, including Iriomote and Taketomi islands. The facility was designed with a capacity to handle growing tourism to the region, which is known for its coral reefs, clear waters, and subtropical environment. Passenger numbers have grown significantly since opening, driven by rising domestic and inbound tourism interest in the Yaeyama Islands.