On February 29, the Japanese government put off a decision on whether to limit foreign ownership in airports following criticism that such a move would hurt the confidence of foreign investors in Japan.

The transport ministry has prepared a bill for the current parliament session, ending on June 15, that includes a limit on foreign stakes in airports to less than a third of voting shares, citing security concerns.

Ministers said on February 29 that the government had decided to take the measure out of the bill but to reconsider it as soon as possible, with a deadline of the end of the year.

The plan has been criticised by some ministers and ruling party lawmakers who said the regulation would run counter to the government's policy of promoting foreign investment in Japan.

"I support the decision to take more time to examine this issue. It is in the right direction," said Economics Minister Hiroko Ota, who had been critical of the restriction.

"This is a very important issue because it is a touchstone on how to meet two goals, which is to open up the country while ensuring national security," she said.

A regulation on foreign stakes in airports has been discussed as the government want to list Narita International Airport Corp, which runs Tokyo's Narita airport, as early as the business year starting in April 2009.

Australia's Macquarie Airport has taken about a 20 percent stake in Japan Airport Terminal Co, which runs Tokyo's Haneda Airport.

The share price of Japan Airport Terminal jumped 5 percent following the government's decision to remove the clause.