More stores and a tenancy reshuffle appear to be insulating Hong Kong International Airport from the retail downturn affecting the rest of the territory over the last 18 months.

HKIA retail sales are defying the downturn affecting the rest of the territory.

“Together with continuous marketing promotion effort, HKIA retail sales outperformed Hong Kong overall retail sales during the year of 2015 and in the first quarter of 2016,” an unidentified airport spokesperson told TRBusiness in an interview published online.

As previously reported by Inside Retail Hong Kong, territory-wide retail sales fell 11.4 per cent in the first four months of 2016, but the rate of decline is slowing.

While the HKIA spokesperson did not reveal any figures in the interview, the airport says its retail outlets are recording sales higher so far this year than last, “and hopes the positive performance will  continue and even improve”.

A major contributor to the increase is the opening of the new 105,000 sqm Midfield Concourse last December which is home to more than 20 retail and food and beverage outlets. Some 20 per cent of the airport’s flights now leave from the MFC, equivalent to about 230 flights a day.

As in the main terminal, the MFC retailers sell a mix of fashion, electronics, packaged foods, personal care items, liquor and tobacco.

Luxury travel retailer DFS Group has opened two stores covering more than 5800 sqft (538 sqm) of retail space in the new concourse.

Despite the falling visitor numbers into Hong Kong, the airport recorded an increase in passenger throughout last year – to a record 68.5 million and more than 406,000 flight movements.

Throughout the airport, a number of tenancies have been reorganised with new brands entering and in some categories – especially bookstores – stores culled back.