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KIX Cabin opened in December as the first phase of a major commercial overhaul at Kansai Airport |
JAPAN. Kansai International Airport Company (KIAC) is preparing to open its ambitious new commercial complex, KIX Airside Avenue, in 5,600sq m of space. The new zone is scheduled to open fully on 15 March.
KIAC extended the fourth-floor mezzanine of the terminal to provide an additional 2,000sq m of space for the complex. This will house an upscale restaurant at its centre, with Japanese cuisine in one half and Western style food & beverage in the other.
On the restaurant’s south side will be located a range of premium fashion brands: Cartier will relocate its boutiques here, and will be joined by new Coach and Tiffany stores.
On the north side KIAC will operate a fragrances and cosmetics store along with a relocated Bvlgari boutique and, in what the company said is a first for any Japanese airport, a stand-alone Swarovski boutique. Other new entrants to the mix will be Diesel from Italy, Abiste and Samantha Thavasa from Japan, and the Japanese souvenir shop Miyabi.
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The new KIX Airside Avenue is an upscale 5,600sq m arena devoted to retail and food & beverage |
The first phase of Kansai’s major expansion and rebranding exercise at Kansai – all under the KIX brand – began in late 2009, with the opening of KIX Cabin.
This multipurpose shopping and convenience zone is located in the third floor airside Departures lounge. It is anchored by a large Japanese electronics, confectionery and souvenir outlet called Yorozu (the name means ‘we have it all’).
Two smaller stores are the Drug Segami pharmacy and an outlet of the prominent books and magazine chain Maruzen, which also has a targeted souvenir range. Completing the mix is a KIX Kid’s Room, a KIX Refresh Cabin (showers and day rooms) and The Smoking Lounge.
Hiroki Kitabayashi, KIAC’s Deputy General Manager of duty free and other airside business division, told The Moodie Report: “Now we will have some interesting products and services. We can make something that has a Kansai flavour with typical local goods, and also provide what passengers want in top-quality, international fashion goods.”
Note: Watch out for an on location report from our Special Correspondent Peter Dowling on KIX Airside Avenue and Kansai International Airport, coming up in The Moodie Print Edition for February.
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Kansai Airport is one of Japan’s key international gateways |
MORE STORIES ON KANSAI AIRPORT
Passenger declines ease at Kansai and Chubu – 09/09/09
Kansai International Airport adds range of stores and services as new Gimpo flights boost passenger traffic – 27/01/09
