Tender News
More turmoil in South Korean duty free as Lotte, Shilla and Shinsegae all pursue rent relief
Incheon International Airport was faced with a dilemma of the sort that seems to periodically plague the duty-free retail sector in the so-called ‘Land of the morning calm’ but where life is often anything but so. Now the courts must decide.
Flemingo Duty Free has been awarded a concession to operate 17 duty-free, specialist retail and food & beverage spaces at four international airports in Cape Verde – Amílcar Cabral International, Sal; Nelson Mandela International, Praia; Aristides Pereira International, Boa Vista; and Cesária Évora Airport, São Vicente.
Incheon International Airport was faced with a dilemma of the sort that seems to periodically plague the duty-free retail sector in the so-called ‘Land of the morning calm’ but where life is often anything but so. Now the courts must decide.
Following a favourable Supreme Court ruling, the Korean travel retailer is optimistic the higher court will order a full refund of airport rents paid during the COVID-ruined March to August 2020 period. UPDATED.
The partners said the deal, signed on 20 May, marks a pivotal step in modernising the QAIA’s advertising infrastructure, elevating both the airport environment and overall passenger journey.
The Request for Proposals will launch later this month ahead of operations commencing in January 2026 and covers over 1,500sq m of F&B retail space.
Western Sydney International Airport will house more than 20 F&B sites across around 2,300sq m of leasable space in the new facility when it opens in late 2026.
The French travel retailer secures a notable concession gain in Asia, one that plays to its ‘triple-axis’ strengths of duty free, travel essentials and food & beverage.
“We will continue to collaborate with Changi Airport Group to strengthen customer experience programmes such as the WOWS (World of Wines and Spirits) event to differentiate our liquor operations and customer experiences,” says Lotte Duty Free CEO Kim Dong-ha.
The renewed contract covers 18 stores and more than 8,600sq m of space across the airport’s four terminals.
The spaces include a 76sq m unit in the Departures West Hall and a 74sq m unit at the Midfield Concourse, both on Level 6.
HMSHost will debut six new restaurants spanning over 725sq m, beginning in 2025. Hudson separately captured a seven-year contract to launch a Manhattan-inspired retail store and Terminal 5’s first immersive video gaming lounge.
“Our commercial team is looking to engage with potential partners via a Request for Proposals programme for up to 13 sites across T3 and T4,” says Perth Airport Chief Commercial & Aviation Officer Kate Holsgrove.
