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Cairo Airport T2: Newly renovated and set to open next March with three duty free retailers |
EGYPT. Cairo Airport Company has revealed details of the commercial line-up at Cairo International Airport’s Terminal 2, which is scheduled to reopen in March 2016. This includes three duty free concessionaires (Egyptair Duty Free Shops, Cairo Airport Duty Free and Dufry), speciality store space for IDF Trading & Agencies and a substantial food & drinks contract for SSP.
As reported previously, T2 was closed in April 2010 for a US$400 million renovation, which began in 2012. The reopening in 2016 will feature around 22,000sq m of commercial space within the 234,000sq m building.
Cairo Airport Company confirmed the triple retailer line-up in duty free, each with a five-year contract.
The company told The Moodie Report that Dufry will run 2,964sq m of space in the new T2, including 2,252sq m in airside Departures and 712sq m in landside Arrivals. Egyptair Duty Free Shops will manage 1,255sq m of space, with 755sq m in airside Departures and 500sq m in Arrivals. Cairo Airport Duty Free (a division of The Chalhoub Group) will run 600sq m of space, all in Departures.
In addition, Cairo-based travel retailer and distributor IDF Trading & Agencies will manage a 137sq m speciality store featuring leading brands Montblanc and Hugo Boss.
There will be a strong dining offer, with SSP managing 600sq m of space in a new Food Village. Among the airside brand highlights will be a 120sq m Starbucks unit, a 150sq m McDonald’s restaurant and a 120sq m Segafredo café.
Cairo international Airport handled 14 million passengers last year. The renovation project will increase T2 capacity from three million to 7.5 million passengers annually. It will handle SkyTeam, OneWorld and Gulf carriers.
Of the T2 project, earlier this year Cairo Airport Company said: “The entire terminal’s look and feel will improve dramatically once the renovation works are completed. The upgrade shall include the complete modernisation of the 20-year-old facility to reach the same level of service as the new Terminal 3. Once completed, the renovated terminal will be operated jointly with Terminal 3 as one integrated terminal, thus, reinforcing the role of Cairo International Airport as a regional hub.
“The terminal will include larger and more modern retail areas and will include gates to handle the Airbus A380. Passengers can expect a highly modern terminal offering international standard service levels and more passenger conveniences, including large retail areas and lounges.”
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The terminal reopening in 2016 will feature around 22,000sq m of commercial space within the 234,000sq m building |
Background
Cairo Airport Terminal 2 was inaugurated in 1986, serving primarily European, Gulf and East Asian airlines. The terminal was closed in April 2010 for complete renovation, starting in 2012 and lasting 36 months. The architecture of the original building limited the opportunities for further expansion, prompting a major structural overhaul at an estimated cost of US$400 million. This was supported by a US$387 million loan from the World Bank.
