As expected, Central Japan International Airport Co Ltd (Centrair) today (24 January) opened a 90sq m duty free shop specialising in Japanese liquor.

Sorano Sakagura, located near Gate 20 in the International Departure Lobby (post security), sells approximately 200 Japanese liquors from Central Japan and other parts of the country, including saké and shōchū.

Additionally, the store offers three special edition releases (limited to 1,000 units each) that have been developed with local breweries from Aichi, Gifu and Mie prefectures.

Sold under the Sorano Sakagura branding, the products are Kunizakari (¥2,500/US$23) from Nakano Sake Brewery (Aichi); Yotsuboshi (¥5,000/US$46) from Funasaka Sake Brewery (Gifu); and Hanzo (¥4,000) from Ota Sake Brewery (Mie).

Sorano Sakagura is the first Japanese speciality duty free liquor outlet to be housed at a Japanese airport, says Centrair.

DF SALES US$189M IN 9M

Airport duty free sales for the nine months of fiscal 2019 (April-December) totalled ¥20,734m.

Total sales for the period, which includes revenues from ordinary shops, restaurants and duty free, reached ¥32,709m against international passenger volumes of 5,208,040.

In 2019, the airport opened its new Terminal 2 serving low-cost carrier traffic in a bid to lift passenger capacity.

“We are looking forward to the Tokyo Olympics and the new opportunities it will bring for the country in terms of tourism and the international events that will be happening on the airport island thanks to the opening of Aichi Sky Expo convention and exhibition centre,” commented Eulalia Llorens, General Affairs Division, Public Relations, Central Japan International Airport.

To read more from Central Japan Airport, see the January issue of TRBusiness.