CHINA. Changi Airports International (CAI) and Chongqing Airport Group (CAGC) have established a partnership to develop the non-aeronautical business at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport. It is one element in a wide-ranging Chongqing Connectivity Initiative between Singapore and Chongqing.
The Sino-Singapore Chongqing Airport Commercial Management Company aims to enhance commercial activities at Chongqing “by introducing experiential concepts that promote a Sense of Place, as well as new product categories and brands, to meet the changing preferences of passengers and visitors to the airport,” said the partners. It will also manage CIP facilities, car parking and advertising in the terminals and Ground Transport Centre.
CAI holds a 49% stake in the joint venture and CAGC holds 51%. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Deputy Secretary of Chongqing Municipal Committee, Mayor Tang Liangzhi and Minister of Trade and Industry of Singapore, Chan Chun Sing.
CAI Chief Executive Officer Lim Liang Song said: “Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport is a major aviation hub for airlines in Western China and we are honoured to be able to play a part in defining its commercial experience. The joint venture is an affirmation of our good working relationship with its management and their trust in our capabilities, which started in 2008 when they appointed CAI to consult on the commercial development of one of its terminal.”
The Chongqing Connectivity Initiative, launched in November 2015, is the third Government-to-Government project between Singapore and China. It focuses on developing financial services, aviation, transport and logistics, and information and communication technology in the city.
CAI’s first collaboration with the airport in 2008 saw commercial sales per passenger increase by 20% when the terminal became operational in 2010. CAI was engaged again in 2011 to work with the team to plan the commercial space for the new terminal 3A.
Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport is the ninth busiest airport in China and handled 41 million passengers in 2018. The airport recently won the ACI ASQ award for Best Airport in Asia Pacific region (25-40mppa). The Creative Corridor in T3A (built by JC Decaux China) also won the Most Impactful Individual Advertising Execution in The Moodies social and digital media awards from The Moodie Davitt Report last year.
