This is one of the key components of the Asian Gateway Initiative, announced by the Japanese government in May 2007. Aviation is critical for the movement of people, goods, and money, and the aim of Asian Open Skies is to form a gateway for Asian exchange by making airports easier to use and increasing the number and convenience of international flights. Specific goals are to ease regulations on the number of incoming and outgoing flights and on airline companies, actively promote international charter flights, and allow major metropolitan airports to operate 24 hours a day.