Chongqing Jiangbei’s new STARRY GALLERIA opens for business

China’s Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport (CKG) has opened a new commercial street of international brands in T3A Terminal.

The airport’s new ‘STARRY GALLERIA’ initiative is a result of the work of the Sino-Singapore Chongqing Airport Commercial Management Co Ltd – the joint venture set up by Singapore Changi subsidiary, Changi Airports International (CAI), and the Chongqing Airport Group to manage the non-aeronautical side of CKG’s business.

Among the guests at the unveiling of the new concept were Dai Ke, party committee secretary and chairman of Chongqing Airport Group Co Ltd; Hiang Seow Lee, CEO of Changi Airport Group (CAG) and chairman of Changi Airports International; and Nancy Liu, president of DFS Group China.

According to the partners, the opening is another example of the success of the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity.

Looking ahead, Chongqing says that it is willing to work with Singapore to “give full play to the radiation effect and driving role of the two hubs” and expand the depth of “point-to-point” co-operation around financial services, the aviation industry, transportation and logistics, information and communication and the digital economy.

It also notes that it wants to promote “face-to-face” high-quality connectivity between central and western China and ASEAN, and write a new chapter of exchanges and co-operation between the two sides in the new era.

Next up for the Chongqing Airport Group is said to be the acceleration of the construction of an international aviation hub and the continued development of the Chongqing-Singapore aviation corridor.

Learning from the development of Singapore Changi’s iconic Jewel Changi Airport development, Chongqing Airport Group Co Ltd, reveals that it also plans to build a high-quality international shopping mall with a “themed landscape and comprehensive business” which it hopes will become a future landmark for the city of Chongqing.

CAG CEO, Lee, stated that Singapore Changi Airport and Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport have developed a “community of solidarity”.

He also noted that he felt that CAG has the confidence and experience to help Chongqing Airport better implement China’s ‘Belt and Road’ initiative as well as work with countries and regions along the new land-sea corridor in the west.

Lee added that he hoped that Singapore Changi Airport and Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport can further deepen their co-operation mechanism, strengthen their experience exchange, achieve the ultimate in differentiated, humanised and personalised business travel services, and strive to bring passengers even more pleasant and exciting upgrades.

DFS Group’s Liu said that Chongqing offers great opportunities for tourism, CKG representing its first entry into the domestic duty-paid travel retail market at a Chinese airport.