ICELAND. Leifur Eiríksson Air Terminal (LEAT) has signed agreements with several companies to operate stores in Keflavík Airport’s new departures lounge.
The rare opportunity to run retail at the airport arose as the airport undergoes a major expansion and renovation costing ISK5 billion (US$81.8 million) to cope with rising passenger numbers.
Nearly 60 companies responded to LEAT’s call for pre-qualification in the autumn of 2004,, and in recent weeks it has signed new agreements with Optical Studio, Saga Boutique, Blue Lagoon and Penninn to operate stores in the new lounge, which will be open in spring 2007. More signings are expected to be announced.
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Blue Lagoon will have its own store selling not just own its products but also offering spa and massage services |
Expansion works, which have begun and which will be completed on 1 March 2007, are being carried out in two phases. The building will be extended to the south, and all shopping and services to passengers will be moved to level 2. The new shops will open in two batches – first in the spring of 2006, and others in 2006/7.
Optical Studio will open its store selling spectacles, sunglasses, contact lenses and accessories in 2007, as its agreement with LEAT will take effect on 1 January 2007. The store will also offer optometry services.
Icelandair’s Saga Boutique’s agreement with LEAT takes effect on 1 June 2006. The company now runs a store selling clothing and accessories in the terminal, but in the new shopping area its store will triple in size to 220sq m.
Saga Boutique will sell menswear, womenswear, shoes and accessories. “The emphasis will be on well-known trademarks such as Boss, Burberry, SAND, Wolford and Lacoste, along with garments by Icelandic designers,” said LEAT.
Blue Lagoon, which is currently a “˜shop in shop’ within Islandica’s store area, will move into its own standalone store from spring 2006. A popular brand in Iceland, it will offer services such as massage and spa treatments in addition to its own branded products.
LEAT said: “The agreement with Blue Lagoon is one aspect of increasing the diversity of businesses in the terminal and offering more businesses the opportunity to have their own outlets there. In addition this is part of the plan for closing down the Islandica store in its present form.”
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Penninn will operate a store selling newspapers, magazines, books and other goods under the Eymundsson trademark |
Likewise, the agreement between LEAT and Penninn will also lead to the eventual closure of the Islandica store. Penninn will operate a store selling newspapers, magazines, books and other goods under the Eymundsson trademark. These goods are currently sold in the Islandica store.
“The changes now taking place in shopping services at the terminal have the objective of improving service to passengers, for instance, by offering a wider range of products and trademarks, and also expanding the role of private enterprise in the Terminal’s business. The changes are expected to reinforce the position of the Leifur Eiríksson Air Terminal as a popular port of call, comparable to leading airports around the world,” said LEAT.
The airport handled 1.8 million passengers last year. The number is expected to reach 3.2 million by 2015.
MORE STORIES ON LEIFUR EIRIKSSON AIR TERMINAL
Strong retail performance boosts Leifur Eiríksson Air Terminal first-half profits – 15/09/05
Ten to 12 new retailers to be awarded contracts by Leifur Eiriksson Air Terminal – 19/07/05
Leifur Eiríksson Air Terminal forms subsidiary to take over existing retail business – 12/01/05
