The operator of Narita airport near Tokyo is considering reopening part of its Terminal 2 satellite building that was closed in April last year due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, sources familiar with the matter said Thursday.

The plan to reopen the area in one of the country's major international gateways reflects an expected recovery in arrival numbers. Narita International Airport Corp. will decide when to resume operation of the zone in accordance with the government's anti-virus measures, according to the sources.

With the closure of the satellite building, passengers arriving at remote areas of the airport currently need to be transferred by airport shuttle buses for quarantine, immigration and customs procedures. Once it reopens, travelers will be able to walk through the terminal.

Sections of both the Narita airport Terminal 1 and 2 buildings were closed in April last year due to a collapse in air travel demand, as well as the government's declaration of its first coronavirus state of emergency. One runway was also closed for around three months.