Japan plans international role for Haneda airport

* Transport minister wants to turn airport into 24-hour hub

* Eyes travellers now using South Korea's Incheon

* Opposition from Osaka, other local governments

* Shares in Japan Airport Terminal jump 18.6 percent

TOKYO, Oct 13 - Japan's new transport minister said he wants to turn Tokyo's mainly domestic Haneda Airport into a 24-hour hub for international flights, aiming to fend off growing competition from South Korea.

"Many passengers from Japan's regional airports go abroad by way of South Korea's Incheon Airport. Japan needs its own international hubs," Seiji Maehara told reporters on Tuesday.

Haneda is closer to central Tokyo than Narita International, the country's main international airport.

At present Haneda handles mainly domestic flights but it is scheduled to expand its capacity by 110,000 slots next autumn, about half of which will be assigned to international routes.

Maehara's comments sparked criticism from local governments including Osaka, Japan's second-biggest economic region and home to Kansai International Airport.

"I would like to tell Mr. Maehara that two engines are needed for Japan," Osaka governor Toru Hashimoto was quoted as saying by Jiji News Agency.

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama confirmed the plans to strengthen Haneda's role as an international airport.

"But that does not mean Narita International Airport or Kansai International Airport are no longer significant," he told reporters.

Shares of Japan Airport Terminal Co, which owns the Haneda airport terminal building, surged by their daily limit of 200 yen to 1,274 yen on Maehara's remarks.