MBE is the newest airport in HokkaidÅ: it opened in November 1999. The airport was originally used for general aviation flights. Flights were transferred from the original Monbetsu Airport, which was located closer to the city. Air Nippon inaugurated daily service to New Chitose Airport outside Sapporo that year, and added flights to Tokyo International Airport in 2000. The Sapporo service was moved to Okadama Airport in 2001 and discontinued entirely in 2003.