Singapore Changi Airport revamps retail scene with elevated brand mix and redesigned concepts

SINGAPORE. Changi Airport Group (CAG) has elevated its retail and dining offerings at Singapore Changi Airport, introducing fresh concepts and an expanded food & beverage offer as passenger traffic surges past pre-pandemic levels.

Over the past year, Changi Airport has expanded its retail offering with 180 new leases, including nearly 40 first-to-airport brands, reinforcing its status as one of the leading global retail destinations.

As previously reported, CAG has extended Lotte Travel Retail’s presence at the airport through a new three-year extension of the South Korean company’s liquor and tobacco duty-free concession, effective 9 June 2026.

The renewed contract covers 18 stores and more than 8,600sq m of space across the airport’s four terminals.

Among the key highlights of the refreshed retail line-up is a Mr. Bucket pop-up in Terminal 2, building on the success of the chocolate brand’s debut store in Terminal 3 launched last year.

Popular fashion labels such as Victoria’s Secret Beauty and Lingerie, and Marc Jacobs have expanded their presence with recent openings in the transit areas of terminals 1 and 2.

Adding to the vibrant retail scene, pop-ups from global brands such as Dyson and Decathlon have recently debuted.

Changi’s public areas have recently seen the addition of F&B brands, including Taiwan Culture, serving traditional Taiwanese dishes in a Shifen Old Street setting, and the Swensen’s Unlimited buffet in T2.

The first Singapore outlet of Malaysian coffee brand ZUS Coffee has opened in T4, showcasing its innovative coffee technology and speciality brews. All these F&B outlets hold halal certification to accommodate a diverse range of diners.

Refreshed retail spaces and dining options in T1 East

As part of its ongoing transformation, Changi Airport’s T1 East Departure Transit recently updated its F&B zone, combining vibrant design with enhanced convenience.

The refreshed dining area welcomes new tenants, including popular Chinese coffeehouse chain Luckin Coffee making its first appearance in Singapore travel retail.

Famed for its chicken rice, Chatterbox Express joins the F&B mix, enhancing local dining options.

The expanded dining area offers seating for 120 and a streamlined self-ordering system, allowing passengers to order and pay from their seats via Changi Pay while earning Changi Rewards points.

In T3, passengers can explore the Basement 2 public retail area, offering a blend of shopping and local flavours, with new outlets such as The Green Party gift shop and the Little Dino indoor playground.

Anchor tenants FairPrice Finest and Kopitiam have been revamped, expanding into a 2,787sq m area that enhances both shopping convenience and dining options. FairPrice Finest features multiple entry points, self-checkout counters and a dedicated tourist zone showcasing Singaporean products.

Kopitiam’s upgraded dining area introduces a colonial courtyard-style dining space, complete with a calming water feature.

Optimising the online shopping experience

The shopping upgrades have been extended to iShopChangi, Changi Airport’s online platform, which expanded its non-traveller selection with over 140 brands.

To boost engagement with Chinese shoppers, CAG embedded iShopChangi into a new WeChat mini programme launched in September last year.

Since its launch, the programme has generated 27% of iShopChangi’s Chinese traveller sales, driven by social referral programmes, live chats with Chinese customer service agents and targeted promotions. Notably, 89% of buyers were new to Changi, underscoring its effectiveness.

To streamline the iShopChangi experience, arriving shoppers can scan their passports to access their purchases from automated lockers, part of a pilot at T2’s Departure Collection Centre in collaboration with Panasonic.

Operational efficiency also improved with the launch of the TREX platform in June 2024, enhancing merchant operations with real-time inventory control, order tracking and data-driven sales analytics.