SINGAPORE. Changi Airport has reopened around 80% of airside shops and 90% of those landside in Terminals 1 and 3, with more to open soon.
That’s according to Changi Airport Group (CAG)’s latest media briefing. The news was shared with The Moodie Davitt Report and other titles during the TFWA Asia Pacific live networking event on Tuesday. CAG is host for this week’s event.
CAG said it is “ramping up efforts to encourage more retailers to reopen their shops and extend their opening hours” as traffic returns.
Passenger numbers reached around 40% of pre-COVID levels during the May Day celebrations, from under 15% in February. In March, Changi Airport served 1.14 million passengers, crossing the one million mark for the first time since March 2020. CAG management said it expects volumes to hit at least 50% of pre-pandemic numbers in 2022.
Among the key openings are Lotte Duty Free’s arrivals stores in T1 and T3. More Lotte Duty Free shops will open this month, as well as The Shilla Duty Free beauty stores.
Currently over 32 airside outlets are operating 24 hours a day, including Lotte, Shilla plus F&B units such as Singapore Food Street, Burger King, Enick Tan, Starbucks and The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf.
As more passengers travel, Changi Airport is ramping up its campaigns to encourage spending. The ‘Win with Changi’ promotion runs through the year from last November, as reported.
Several pop-up activations are delivering new experiences for travellers, some offering first to market launches. As reported, CAG partnered with Lotte Duty Free to launch The Macallan Harmony Collection Fine Cacao in T3 recently. The world-first installation gives travellers a look at the new sustainability collection, available first at Changi from 1-14 May.
More retail options will appear later this year, including several new to Changi luxury boutiques. CAG noted that the brands committed to Changi in the depth of the pandemic, even before the government relaxed travel rules recently. This, it said, reflected their “deep confidence in the Changi air hub”.
In the public areas, visitor numbers have risen by +50% since terminal buildings opened in September. T3 Basement 2 now offers more dining options including three new tenants: The Jelly Hearts, RotiBoy and 365 Juices Bar. Almost all stores in the public areas have opened.
At Jewel Changi Airport, five new stores opened in Q1 2022. These include Poulet Bijou and Mamma Mia operated by the Minor Food Group, as well as Taiwanese bakery Kazo. Jewel will also soon welcome the first aviation-themed Don Don Donki store and Sourbombe bakery. Jewel’s HSBC Rain Vortex Light 7 Sound show resumed from 1 April.
CAG Managing Director of Airside Concessions Teo Chew Hoon said: “We continue to work closely with our tenants to deliver a memorable and novel experience for every traveller who passes through Changi Airport. We are also excited to reconnect with industry partners and travel retailers to explore more opportunities that will enhance the retail experience.
“With the strong support from our tenants, we are confident that Changi Airport and the travel retail industry is well positioned to seize new opportunities in the post-pandemic world and emerge stronger.”
*As reported, The Trinity Forum – the world’s leading airport commercial revenues conference – is to make a welcome in-person return on 1-2 November 2022 with Changi Airport Group as host. Click here for more.
