JAPAN. Kansai Airports has revised the schedule for its ambitious renovation of Kansai International Terminal 1, and aims to complete most of the project by the time of the Osaka-Kansai Expo in 2025. Some commercial areas in international departures will be finished by Autumn 2026, said the company, having originally been planned for early 2025.
The plans allow for a +60% increase in retail and food & beverage space in international departures, featuring a walk-through duty free shop. International capacity will be around 40 million passengers a year, almost double the volume served in FY2018. Congestion in the international zone is among the drivers behind the expansion project.
Under the new plan, phase one will begin in June 2021, around six months later than planned due to the health crisis. Autumn 2022 will see the completion of new domestic areas, with international airside and emigration finished by Winter 2023. By Spring 2025 all operational areas will be ready, including new security checkpoints, immigration and airline lounges. North and south extensions of the commercial area in the international zone will follow.
Kansai Airports said: “The international gateway of the Kansai region will be ready to welcome the visitors of Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025 with additional capacity, better services, and an incredible passenger experience.” It added: “Let Terminal 1 be the ‘First Pavilion’ of Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025!”
Kansai Airports manages Kansai, Osaka and Kobe airports in the region. In Q3 2020, passenger numbers through the three airports fell by -80.6% year-on-year.
Following the decision to lift domestic travel restrictions on 19 June, domestic volumes have slowly recovered (-63.4% at Osaka Itami Airport in Q3) but international travel remains depressed (-91.5% at Kansai International in the quarter). Visitor access to Japan remains limited by a 14-day quarantine rule on all international arrivals.
