Kansai Airports is on track to open its International Terminal 2 low-cost terminal on January 28, 2017 featuring a walk-through duty free shop for the very first time in any Japanese airport.

The total floor space allocated to the commercial area comprises 1,640sq m, of which the walk-through shopping area accounts for 1,090sq m, with the balance of space featuring other retail and food and beverage facilities.

Kansai Airports management said: “Large-scale shops featuring products popular with travellers such as cosmetics, confectionery, electrical appliances, tobacco, and many others will be arranged along a main aisle to make it easier for customers to choose their favourite products.

SEVERAL SPECIALTY SHOPS WILL ALSO BE FEATURED

“A number of specialty shops popular among Chinese customers, such as drug stores and stores selling watches are also included.”

There will also be two restaurants featuring ‘Japanese’ and ‘Kansai Area’ specialty dishes, as well as food and beverage outlets appealing to different preferences for other customers.

In addition to the duty free shop and other outlets, Kansai Airports says the KIX Duty Free Watches shop will operate as a specialty outlet offering Swiss watch brands, including Longines, Rado, Tissot and Mido, as well as fashion and sports watches and Japanese brands such as Seiko, Casio and Citizen.

Other new stores opening in the new terminal include XCom Global (two separate outlets) which offers communication equipment and rental of WiFi routers, plus SIM card sales; SMBC Currency Exchange (two kiosks); Fuschia by peach concept store which sells peach original products and beauty brands; Applause which is a specialty confecionery outlet; and cocokaratine – a drug store retailing specialty cosmetics, travel goods and popular traveller souvenirs.

‘NEW OPERATOR’ MAKES ITS MARK

As reported last year, Kansai Airports succeeded the operating rights of Kansai International Airport (KIX) and Osaka International Airport (ITM) from New Kansai International Airport Company (NKIAC) and commenced business as a new operating company for both airports.

This followed the historic signing of a concession contract with the New Kansai International Airport Company (“NKIAC”) for an operating period of 44-years by Kansai Airports. This new operating company now consists of a consortium of VINCI Airports and ORIX Corporation as its core members.