TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Travelers have recently noted a smoother experience at Kansai International Airport in Japan, following its renovation.
What was once a bottleneck for departures, causing some passengers to queue for security less than ten minutes before flight takeoff and subsequent delays, now sees a more efficient process.
With added verification measures in place, some have reported going through exit immigration and security checks in as little as 30 minutes.
These improvements come as part of a larger plan revealed on Kansai International Airport's official website to accommodate a surge in international passenger traffic, from the 23 million reported in 2018 to an anticipated 40 million by the time of the Expo 2025 in Osaka.
The airport is gradually undergoing extensive renovations, particularly to its first terminal, to meet these future demands.
Kansai Airport's upgraded its 2nd-floor domestic facilities, completed last October, and the newly opened central zone for international departures, debuted on Dec. 5, are part of a series of renovations aiming for completion by 2026.
An influx of 20 to 30 new duty-free shops and restaurants are part and parcel of the airport's expansion.
Kyodo News reported that with the consolidation of the former north and south exit inspection zones into one central area, the aim has been to elevate efficiency.
Simultaneously, NHK divulged that about 25 high-end shops and eateries have been strategically placed around the boarding gates, centralizing previously dispersed duty-free shops and catering to travelers' convenience.
With Kansai International Airport's ambitious overhaul in progress, passengers can look forward to a more streamlined and pleasurable start to their journeys.
