Kansai International Airport has completed the five-year renovation of Terminal 1 with the opening of a new international commercial area on 2 June 2026. The final phase adds 24 stores to the expanded north-south international departure zone, bringing the central international area to 1.6 times its former size.
The programme began in 2021 and was delivered in stages to keep the terminal operating throughout construction. Major functional upgrades were completed in March 2025, when the renovated terminal reopened ahead of Expo 2025 Osaka. The airport now targets capacity for 40 million international passengers a year, up 36% from 2018.
The wider reconfiguration included the new domestic area opened in October 2022 and the international departures area opened in December 2023. The upgraded terminal also includes a centralized security screening area, self-service bag drop, a walk-through duty-free shop and a large common lounge for international flights.