Following a multi-year redevelopment programme that began in 2021, VINCI, ORIX and Kansai Airports have inaugurated the expanded and renovated international retail area at Terminal 1 of Kansai International Airport (KIX).
The newly opened retail area forms part of an enlarged international departures zone that first entered service in December 2023. The development includes 24 retail and food outlets, featuring international luxury brands, regional product retailers and restaurants. The area also includes a walk-through duty-free store.
The opening coincides with the 10th anniversary of Kansai Airports’ concession agreement to operate the airport.
Kansai International Airport Terminal 1
© VINCI Airports
The international departures section has been expanded by around 60 percent compared with its previous size. The overall renovation of Terminal 1 involved an investment of approximately 70 billion JPY (438 million USD).
The completion of the retail area marks the final stage of the wider Terminal 1 modernisation project. The works were designed to increase passenger capacity and improve airport facilities in response to growing international travel demand.
Kansai Airports, jointly owned by VINCI Airports and ORIX, assumed responsibility for operating Kansai International Airport in 2016 under a long-term concession arrangement. Since then, the partners have overseen infrastructure upgrades and the introduction of new operational and technological systems across the airport.
Nicolas Notebaert, CEO of VINCI Concessions and Chairman of VINCI Airports said:
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.
In 2025, Kansai International Airport handled more than 34 million passengers. The airport serves the Kansai region, including the cities of Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe, and acts as a key hub for international visitors arriving in western Japan.
The completion of the Terminal 1 redevelopment concludes one of the largest infrastructure projects undertaken at Kansai International Airport since the start of the concession period.