Tirana International’s duty free business is run by Gebr Heinemann through its Albanian partnershipALBANIA. Tirana International Airport’s stunning new passenger terminal was inaugurated on 21 March, with HochTief Airport Retail as master retail concessionaire and Gebr Heinemann partnership Albanian Duty Free Distribution as the main duty free retailer.
HochTief Airport Retail, a wholly owned subsidiary of HochTief Airport, has a seven-year master retail concession. HochTief Airport Director Commercial and Property Activities Dr Peter Poungias Evangelos told The Moodie Report: “We are extremely happy with the positive feedback we received so far from airport management, passengers and visitors and are looking forward working together with our 10 retail partners operating three food & beverage and eight retail units comprising approximately 1,100sq m.”
The airport will profit from retail sales via a percentage fee based on a minimum annual guarantee. Poungias added: “From the airport´s perspective this will ensure higher planning reliability and reduced financial risk while ensuring the airport’s participation in any commercial upside.”
The new terminal boasts vastly improved concession services as can be seen from these images. The new outlet layout (left) contrasts sharply with the older duty free unit, pictured in 2005 (right)He praised the team at HochTief Airport Retail. “They developed the retail concept, invested in the construction of the units and selected primarily local partners with domestic as well as international concepts and products through an intensive marketing process.
“Complementing the impressive terminal architecture, state of the art shops and F&B units have been implemented, providing a new level of customer service at the airport. The master concession model provides a lot of opportunities especially for small and medium sized airports. HochTief Airport is well prepared and very interested in providing this service to other airports.”
The new terminal houses eleven retail units, including souvenir and duty free shops, bars, restaurants and cafes
Tirana International Airport is the most important transportaton hub in Albania and is the country’s only international airport. In 2006 it was used by more than 900,000 passengers, up +15.5% over the previous year. Since the 1990s the airport has enjoyed above-average growth in passenger numbers year-on year.
In April 2005 operational responsibility for the management of the airport was handed to the newly established airport company Tirana International Airport SHPK (TIA) following a privatisation agreement in October 2004. TIA will run the airport until 2025. The TIA consortium comprises Hochtief AirPort, DEG Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft (31.7%) and the Albanian-American Enterprise Fund (21.3%),
The new terminal (left) has capacity for more than one million passengers a year. It is a single storey glass structure; (right) as it appeared before privatisation in 2005
The privatisation, in the form of a 20-year concession, is unique in the Balkans. Dr Reinhard Kalenda, CEO of Hochtief AirPort and Chairman of Tirana International Airport SHPK said: “It is a fine example of how even small airports can be run with great commercial success. In this respect, Tirana could serve as a role model for other airports of a similar size.”
The new shops and food & beverage units have will provide a new level of customer service says HochTief
TIA’s new terminal has an area of about 8,500sq m. The facility houses 11 retail units, including souvenir and duty free shops, bars, restaurants and cafes. Restaurants are available for both departing and arriving passengers, and just outside the terminal a covered piazza-style bar offers views of the building and its surrounds.
Hochtief AirPort (HTA), Deutsche Investitions und Entwicklungsgesellschaft (DEG) and the Albanian-American Enterprise Fund (AAEF) make up the shareholdingABOUT HOCHTIEF
Hochtief is one of the leading international providers of construction-related services. With more than 41,000 employees and a sales volume of €13.65 billion in the 2005 financial year, the company is represented in all the world‘s major markets.
In the US, the biggest construction market in the world, Hochtief is the leading general builder via its subsidiary Turner. Through its group company, Leighton, Hochtief is market leader in Australia. The Hochtief service offering in the fields of development, construction, services, concessions and operation covers the value chain of real estate, facilities and infrastructure projects.
Hochtief AirPort bundles the airport management business of Hochtief. Founded in 1997, HTA participates in airport privatisations and acquires airport concessions. It currently has stakes in the airports of Athens, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Sydney and Tirana. In March 2005, together with three financial partners, the company launched the first investment partnership in the airport sector.
