Lower landing fees and subsidies for personnel costs will be offered to airlines that launch or increase international flights at 19 designated airports.

Why is the government going to finance private companies? I can see lower landing fees, but subsidize personnel costs? Why not give them money for fuel, too?

I suspect the demand for landing in inaka is not as urgent as landing at a major hub, which is why the government is going to help airlines pay their expenses.

I might add, I'm willing to teach more English so more Japanese can travel abroad (using the inaka airports) if the government will pay my office rent.

Matsuyama lost its Seoul flight not so long ago. Used this quite a bit in my Ehime days. Easy to fly to Seoul and then to Europe/wherever. Would be nice to get it back but flights such as this one don't work without a subsidy unfortunately.

A better idea would be Bangkok's. There's a bus coach station at Bangkok airport. Once you land, a shuttle bus takes you to the bus station, where you can board a bus to take you to a vast number of provincial destinations for a really cheap price. There's a nice outdoor restaurant and cafe and shops there so you can have a cappucino and read the Bangkok Post while waiting for your bus to leave.

No subsidies needed!