Kansai International Airport (KIA) is located on an artificial island in Osaka Bay, about 50km south of Osaka, Japan. Constructed at a cost of over $14 billion, the 4km long and 2.5km wide island was created between 1987-1991. KIA opened for flights in 1994 and was designed by architect Renzo Piano. It is considered one of the greatest civil engineering achievements of the 20th century.