"Frontline Interview"

Grabbing Business Opportunity Arise
From the Airport

Haneda Turtle Service President Akio Utsumi

Graduated at Meiji Gakuin University in 1972. Instructed Judo at British Budokan (Martial Arts Hall) in 1972 to 1975. Established Haneda Turtle Service in 1978. Appointed as Kodokan Auditor in 2013. Awarded for Outstanding Contribution to Aviation Industry by Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in 2017. Born in Osaka. 69 years old.

From aircraft ground handling to automotive parts packaging and food processing. Haneda Turtle Service’s (Ota, Tokyo) business is diverse. There have been 40 years since a boy who admired aircraft started his own company deals with aviation-related business. The business opportunities that arise from the scenes of people and goods flow at the airports take into shape and now, HTS is spreading its “wings”. 【Keiko Uesugi】

―What triggers you to start your own company at 29 years old?

During studying abroad in London before graduating from college, I was instructing Judo there. One of my student who was working at Heathrow Airport invited me to visit his workplace. There, I saw the works like marshaling of aircraft and loading container were really cool. After returning home, I had an opportunity to see behind the scene of Haneda Airport, and I was deeply moved again. After that, I instantly started working and gaining experience at a company that operated airport limousine buses, and then, I started my own company. At start, it was like swimming against the current where there was no encouraging environment for the young entrepreneurs. In spite of that, I kept working hard to clean the buses and eventually, the works like the loading and unloading of baggage, and cleaning in-flight toilets started to come in one after another. Now, we are marshaling aircraft to the runway, handling passenger-boarding procedures, airport security, refueling aircraft and other numerous operations in the airport.

―You have also grown logistics business into a large pillar of the company.

This is also an idea aroused from the airport. For example, when the price of vegetables soaring up, there will be many cargo aircraft loaded with cabbages arrive from abroad. After that, the cabbages will be cut, wrapped, and lined up at the groceries. Therefore, we have added processing and shipping fresh food to our business. We also have started production of side dishes that are lined up in the supermarkets from last year. We have also expanded our logistics business to automotive parts, household appliances, miscellaneous goods and other goods handled in logistics, and the number of our trading companies has reached 185 from one company at the time of establishment.

―You have also focusing on contribution for society.

We have been supporting the tournaments mainly in Judo and Kendo, and encouraging youth’s growth through sports. Furthermore, we are also working on activities for reintegration of inmates into the society. And personally, I have set up a private foundation last year, to lend a hand for people who are in need such as, disable people.

―Both airport and logistics business are expected to expand their demands more towards Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

There will be incessantly offers, but I will always reminds myself of “zensangoichi” (three steps forward, one-step back). When there are three new projects, the next one will be declined. Running all of four projects at one time will ruin three of them. I had put the word “turtle” in our company’s name because I am like a rabbit. I was able to reach this far because I have been keeping in mind to make steady steps like a turtle. This logistics job needs patience and endurance. The goals is still far away. And from now on, I will continue to walk steadily.