Reinvented passenger experience
After undergoing a radical upgrade in the run-up to the Osaka World Expo in 2025, Kansai International in Japan offers passengers a unique experience that meets the highest industry standards.
As operator of Kansai International airport (KIX) built on an artificial island in Osaka Bay with its Japanese partner Orix since 2016, VINCI Airports led a massive renovation programme increasing terminal 1 capacity from 23 million to 40 million passengers. A substantial part of the works involved new operational processes to optimise passenger flows over all key points check-in, security and passport control. The programme also included rethinking the retail offer to propose an iconic experience in a completely remodelled boarding area. International travellers walk through a 2,500 sq. metre duty-free store the largest in a Japanese airport then arrive in a huge central plaza laid out to direct passengers to one of the tastefully styled thematic islands.
These spaces each feature a distinctive atmosphere and cater to passenger profiles through the “design by mood” concept developed by VINCI Airports, offering a combination of retail and food service options. The new retail area also hosts luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Dior (including the first-ever Café Dior created by chef Anne-Sophie Pic), Chanel, Hermès and Gucci, while also shining a light on Kansai, primarily through local catering chains serving Japanese specialities.
The design by mood concept and its themed atmospheres:
- Active, with its urban-style, tech and business products
- Curious, for travellers interested in tourism and culture
- Peaceful, with its range of natural products
- Fun, for people who like playful objects.
“Passengers who know KIX well experience a Wow! effect as they enter the walk-through store, while those less familiar with the airport are impressed by the layout and lively atmosphere of the retail area.”