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Hiroki Kitabayashi, KIAC’s Deputy General Manager, Duty-Free and Other Air-side Business |
JAPAN. Work is underway on a new low-cost carrier terminal on Kansai International Airport’s second airport island.
Kansai International Airport Co (KIAC) is committed to commissioning the building by the Japanese autumn.
With nine boarding gates in a central facility, the terminal will cater to both international and domestic flights, and will present a varied retail and food & beverage offer.
“This is Japan’s first budget terminal,” commented Hiroki Kitabayashi, KIAC’s Deputy General Manager, Duty-Free and Other Air-side Business.
Although the commercial plan will not be released until spring, Kitabayashi said it will be based around the concept of gate lounges adjacent to the stores and cafés.
The main feature of the international area will be a sizable duty free store, which will be directly operated by KIAC’s affiliate company Kansai Airport Agency.
KIAC is seeking a clear point of difference from the shops in its main terminal.
The terminal will become the base for new LCC airline Peach Aviation, which is part owned by All Nippon Airways. Peach Aviation is inaugurating low-cost routes from Kansai International to Fukuoka, Sapporo Shin-Chitose, Nagasaki and Kagoshima by 1 April.
Peach will launch international routes from Kansai to Incheon in May, with flights to Okinawa, Hong Kong and Taiwan to follow.
Note: Peter Dowling’s feature articles on Japan’s travel retail market will appear in the March Print Edition of The Moodie Report.
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Japan is arriving late to the Asian LCC party, but Kansai’s budget terminal will ensure it does so in style |
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The terminal design is intended to enhance dwell times in retail and food & beverage outlets by positioning commercial concessions adjacent to the passenger lounges and lobby areas |
