Japan’s Oita Airport (OIT) has officially changed its name to ‘Oita Hello Kitty Airport’ but only for the next six months. Until October 2025, the airport will welcome travelers and expo attendees with photo backdrops and studios featuring Hello Kitty and other Sanrio characters.
その名も「#大分ハローキティ空港」
— NHK大分放送局 (@nhk_oita) March 17, 2025
来月開幕する万博の期間中
大分空港とハローキティがコラボ!
大分県に観光客を呼び込む狙いです#大分NEWSWEBhttps://t.co/m8EAMccrNB
ぶんドキ【総合】
平日 午後6時10分~
土日 午後6時45分~ pic.twitter.com/Z2sx9uM2jV
Next to Tokyo, Oita is the only place in Japan that has a Sanrio theme park. Harmonyland, which opened in April 1991, is an outdoor amusement park run by Sanrio and is a sister park of Sanrio Puroland, a theme park that opened the previous year in Tama City, Tokyo.
A shuttle bus connecting Oita Hello Kitty Airport and Harmonyland is scheduled to run between August to October 2025.
The Oita Prefectural Government announced its marketing and branding campaign plans for the airport in March 2025. Oita Governor Kiichiro Sato said that the government expects to generate “significant effects” from the branding campaign and promotion.
Meanwhile, Singapore Airlines begins $34 million lounge refurbishment at Changi’s Terminal 2
According to Singapore Airlines, the revamped lounges will feature 50% more space and seating capacity, and include upgraded facilities. Signature elements from SIA’s flagship lounges at Changi’s Terminal 3 will also be included, as well as an enhanced variety of food and beverage options.
The all-new First Class SilverKris Lounge will feature a spacious area with increased capacity, higher ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows.
The airline will also include premium experiences such as barista services in the morning, live cooking stations, and self-service buffet.
The Business Class SilverKris Lounge will expand by 30%, providing customers with more space and comfort. It will include a quiet rest area with recliners for customers to relax before their flight, and a redesigned living room area with diverse seating options including wingback chairs, sofa seats, and productivity pods.
“This significant investment underscores Singapore Airlines’ unwavering commitment to elevating the end-to-end travel experience for our customers,” said Yeoh Phee Teik, Senior Vice President Customer Experience, Singapore Airlines.
“Building on the success of our Terminal 3 lounges, we are extending our signature hospitality and thoughtfully curated offerings to Terminal 2. This upgrade reaffirms our continued dedication to providing a seamless, world-class experience that meets the high expectations of our discerning customers,” Yeoh added.
In order to minimize disruption to customers, SIA’s lounge renovation will be carried out in phases. Construction of the new First Class SilverKris Lounge started on April 15, 2025, and is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2025. Construction of the new Business Class SilverKris Lounge is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025, and the new KrisFlyer Gold Lounge in the first half of 2026.