Kansai nears completion of new boutiques

John Rimmer

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Osaka Kansai airport authority Kansai International Airport Co will complete the renovation and expansion of its airside branded boutiques at the end of this month

Japan's second biggest airport Osaka Kansai is close to completing the renovation and expansion of its brand boutiques. Following the opening of Salvatore Ferragamo, Cartier and Bvlgari outlets on December 22 and two Hermès boutiques on February 26, renovation work on further Cartier and Bvlgari boutiques is almost complete while the opening of Céline, Montblanc and Dunhill stores on March 29 will mark the completion of the project.

The refit has allowed airport authority Kansai International Airport Co (KIAC) to create a 30sq m (323sq ft) watch store in the airport's north wing following the relocation of the existing Bvlgari boutique. The watch outlet will be run by KIAC and its retail partner JATCo. The expansion of boutique space has also prompted the relocation of the airport's two cafés, which are now run by Starbucks Coffee (north wing) and Japan Airlines subsidiary Jalux (south wing).

KIAC executive director for international affairs management Takao Matsunami, formerly director for airside business and architect of the project, said: "I am proud to be involved in such a historic project in our 10th anniversary year as we strive to meet increasing customer demand for higher quality. Also I must state my gratitude to our duty-free tenants for the outstanding understanding and cooperation they showed for this project. Without this partnership, the project could not have been realised so successfully."

Kansai boasts one Hermès boutique in each of the airport's wings, spanning 120sq m (1,290sq ft) in the south wing (operated by Blanc de Blancs) and 60sq m (645sq ft) in the north (run by Airport Senmon Daiten). Elsewhere in the north wing, the 60sq m Ferragamo and Céline outlets will be operated by Kansai Airport Industry and ANA Trading Duty Free respectively, while similarly sized Bvlgari and Cartier boutiques will be run by KIAC/JATCo.

In the south wing, KIAC/JATCo will also run 60sq m Bvlgari and Cartier boutiques, alongside the Dunhill and Montblanc shops run by Asahi Airport Service.

Matsunami said the boutiques already open had enjoyed promising initial sales as Kansai reaches a record high in flight frequency, at about 700 weekly routes.

For more on this story see DFNI April 1, out next week.