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JAPAN. Kansai Airport is advancing its project to renovate most general duty free stores in its Terminal 1 airside avenue from late 2014 through 2015, and to add over 1,000sq m of new retail space in new mezzanine levels.
New Kansai International Airport Corporation (NKIAC) is delivering the additional space by converting fourth-floor landside areas formerly used for business and foreign exchange services and souvenir shops into airside retail.
At the end of March it will open a 450sq m Uniqlo store, and another major brand (yet to be disclosed) in a 550sq m space – both to be accessed by escalators and elevators from the third-floor KIX Airside Avenue.
NKIAC is undertaking the renovation to freshen up an offer already enhanced by the new Lotte Duty Free by KAA, Burberry, Chloe and Ermenegildo Zegna stores opened last September and the Victoria’s Secret store opened last November.
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Kumiko Kushida, NKIAC’s Manager Duty Free Business Retail Management & Commercial Marketing Department, airside in Terminal 1 |
“The renovation aims to improve the overall atmosphere of the airside retail zone, helping to keep the stores fresh and attractive to customers,” commented Kumiko Kushida, NKIAC’s Manager Duty Free Business Retail Management & Commercial Marketing Department.
“We will complete the renovation by the end of March 2015.”
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Lotte Duty Free by KAA showcases Korean and international brands in an area previously occupied by a public lounge facility |
Terminal 3 set for 2016
Meanwhile NKIAC confirmed it is advancing the commercial plan for its new Terminal 3, which is planned to open in the second half of the 2016 fiscal year (April 2016 to March 2017).
To be linked by a new, shared check-in area to the current LCC Terminal 2, the 33,000sq m T3 will handle the international services of low-cost carriers.
T2 will move to be exclusively for domestic LCC services.
“There will not be a great deal of commercial space in the new terminal, but as in T2 we envisage having duty free and souvenir stores, and food & beverage offerings,” Kushida told The Moodie Report.
A full report on Kansai Airport’s retail activity will be published in The Moodie Report March Print Edition.
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Landside at Terminal 2, an area that will move to being domestic only when the new Terminal 3 takes over international LCC flights |
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Chinese New Year decorations adorn the JATCo-administered duty free store in Kansai Airport T2 |
