Kansai International Airport has completed a major expansion and renovation of Terminal 1, unveiling a new international retail and dining area as part of a wider modernization project led by VINCI Airports and ORIX.
The project, which began in 2021, included a 70-billion-yen investment and significantly expanded the airport’s international departures area. The opening also coincided with the 10th anniversary of the Kansai Airports concession operated by VINCI Airports and ORIX.
The new retail zone opened within an extended international departures area first launched in December 2023. It features 24 new outlets, including luxury stores, regional specialty shops and restaurants.
The expansion also includes Japan’s largest walk-through duty-free store, designed to improve the pre-departure shopping experience for international passengers.
The renovation increased the original surface area of the international departures section by 60%, boosting passenger capacity and strengthening the airport’s role as a gateway to western Japan.
An inauguration ceremony was attended by Nicolas Notebaert, CEO of VINCI Concessions and Chairman of VINCI Airports, Shuji Irie, Director of Concessions of ORIX Group, Rémi Maumon de Longevialle, CEO of VINCI Airports, Yoshiyuki Yamaya, CEO of Kansai Airports, and Benoît Rulleau, co-CEO of Kansai Airports.
VINCI Airports and ORIX took over the concession for Kansai International Airport in 2016 and have since invested in infrastructure upgrades, technology and operational improvements.
According to the companies, Kansai International Airport handled more than 34 million passengers in 2025, reinforcing its position as a major international hub connecting the Kansai region with destinations worldwide.
“As we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the concession for Kansai International airport, we are particularly proud of the progress made,” said Nicolas Notebaert, CEO of VINCI Concessions and Chairman of VINCI Airports.
“Together with our partner, Orix, we have transformed this platform into a modern, attractive, and environmentally responsible international hub. VINCI Airports reaffirms its commitment to quality of service, operational performance, and the ecological transition. We will continue in this direction to connect the Kansai region to the world ever more effectively.”
