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Aer Rianta International-Middle East Managing Director John Sutcliffe: “We are ahead in all locations, and by double-digits in most of them.” |
MIDDLE EAST. Aer Rianta International-Middle East (ARI-ME)’s managed turnover will surpass US$500 million in 2006, and could hit US$600 million in 2007 with the inclusion of its new Cyprus operations, Managing Director John Sutcliffe has told The Moodie Report.
He said: “Despite the situation in Lebanon and the security issues that followed the London terror alert of 10 August, we are ahead in all locations, and by double-digits in most of them. I’m confident that our managed turnover for 2006 will top US$500 million.”
The business was boosted by the addition of Larnaca and Paphos airports in July. “The Cyprus venture is a real milestone for the company,” said Sutcliffe. “It’s the first ever ARI-ME investment in airports. We are a shareholder, a landlord and a retailer, through the 25-year retail concession we enjoy in partnership with Cyprus Trading Corporation.”
He said the company would invest US$1.5 million in upgrading retail at the existing terminals, before Paphos opens a new terminal in 2008 and Larnaca a year later.
The company’s expansion of its flagship Bahrain Duty Free operation will begin early in the new year.
Sutcliffe said: “We have got the green light to start a major expansion of the airside commercial areas along with Bahrain Airport Services, which includes retail and food and beverage. We anticipate starting work on the shop in the first quarter of 2007, and we would hope to complete before the Grand Prix in April. It will transform the food and beverage offer but also will give us 400sq m more space for retail. The overall effect will be to create a much more spacious, inviting commercial area.”
Within the main store the retailer the fragrances and cosmetics section by about +20%. “We’ll also create a new fashion area that will have room for additional brands, plus we aim to devote more space to confectionery,” said Sutcliffe. “We’ll also look at developing better space for sunglasses and for music and books. We will have a pharmacy, we’ll extend the toys area and we will build a lifestyle shop to include brands such as Nike, Reebok, Billabong. We want to develop a range that will appeal to younger travellers at lower to mid price points. The lifestyle shop and the new-look toy shop will play a role in this.”
A full report on ARI-ME’s activities in the region will feature in the MEDFA Guide, published by The Moodie Report, which will appear at the Middle East Duty Free Conference in Dubai on 23-24 November.
MORE STORIES ON AER RIANTA INTERNATIONAL-MIDDLE EAST
Hermes Airport Consortium takes over at Larnaca and Paphos airports – 17/05/06
Aer Rianta International-Middle East secures contract extension with Gulf Air – 15/05/06
