Celebration for KIX upon opening of T1’s new international retail area

Kansai International Airport (KIX) has inaugurated the expanded and fully renovated international retail area of Terminal 1, marking the completion of an ambitious renovation project launched in 2021.

The milestone coincides with the 10th anniversary of Kansai Airports’ concession of the airport, which it believes illustrates its decade of commitment to the transformation and attractiveness of the gateway.

The airport welcomed just over 34 million passengers in 2025, confirming its importance to the Kansai region and gateway for tourism to Japan.

KIX operator Kansai Airports is a joint venture spearheaded by majority shareholders VINCI Airports and ORIX Corporation.

The inauguration ceremony was organised in the presence of Nicolas Notebaert, CEO of VINCI Concessions and chairman of VINCI Airports, Shuji Irie, director of concessions of ORIX group, Rémi Maumon de Longevialle, CEO of VINCI Airports, Yoshiyuki Yamaya, CEO of Kansai Airports, and Benoît Rulleau, co-CEO of Kansai Airports, as well as other officials and partners of KIX.

As a result of the upgrade, the airport boasts a new retail area within an extension of the international departures area, which opened in December 2023.

It comprises a total of 24 new retail outlets, including luxury brands, specialty shops offering popular regional products, and a variety of restaurants. It also features Japan’s largest walk-through duty-free shop, providing passengers with an exceptional pre-departure shopping experience.

With the opening of this area, the renovation of Terminal 1 at Kansai International airport is now fully completed. This project represented a 70-billion-yen total investment. The expansion of the international departures area increased the original surface area by 60%, thus strengthening the airport’s operational capacity and attractiveness.

Notebaert enthused: “As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the concession for Kansai International airport, we are particularly proud of the progress made.

“Together with our partner, Orix, we have transformed this platform into a modern, attractive, and environmentally responsible international hub.

“VINCI Airports reaffirms its commitment to quality of service, operational performance, and the ecological transition. We will continue in this direction to connect the Kansai region to the world ever more effectively.”