China Duty Free Group and Wangfujing Duty Free set to capture Beijing Airport duty-free contracts after top bids

CHINA. China Duty Free Group (Terminal 3) and Wangfujing Duty Free (Terminal 2) are poised to be formally awarded the latest big duty-free concessions at Beijing Capital International Airport after topping the respective bids.

The two-pronged open tender covering the departures and arrivals duty-free concessions attracted an all-Chinese line-up of contenders.

Bids closed on Friday 19 December on the tender issued by Beijing Capital Airport Commercial & Trading Co (BACT).

As reported, the T2 tender was contested by incumbent China Duty Free Group (CDFG), Wangfujing Duty Free and China National Service Corporation (CNSC).

The T3 bid attracted offers from CTS (HK) – part of CDFG’s parentage alongside China Tourism Group – CNSC and CDFG. Each tender needed to attract a minimum field of three to proceed.

As widely anticipated, incumbent Sunrise Duty Free (China) Co did not bid, mirroring the situation in the recently concluded duty-free tender for Shanghai Pudong and Hongqiao international airports, which saw Sunrise Duty Free (Shanghai) Co Ltd unable to bid due to a clash with its 51% parent company CDFG.

The concessions span a duty-free area exceeding 14,000sq m, with contracts running for nearly eight years until 10 February 2034.

As reported, BACT said the 2025 tender marks a new strategic allocation of commercial resources at Beijing’s main aviation hub.

“As one of China’s most critical aviation gateways, this large-scope tender for duty-free concessions at Beijing Capital International Airport represents a significant market-oriented operation of its commercial assets,” the company observed.

“It is also a key measure to enhance passenger consumption experience and boost the airport’s non-aeronautical revenue. The commencement of this new operational cycle signals that Beijing’s airport commercial services are poised to enter a new phase of development.”

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From our earlier coverage

Tender overview

Remarkably substantial in its scope, the Beijing tender involved a total combined area reaching 14,213.07sq m, of which 2,355.28sq m is arrivals duty-free space, and 11,857.79sq m is allocated to departures.

The tender was divided into two concessions:

Concession 1 (T3): Total area of 10,646.74sq m

  • Arrivals duty-free shop: 1,938.72sq m
  • T3E departures duty-free shop:  8,310.19sq m
  • T3D departures duty-free shop: 397.83sq m

Concession 2 (T2): Total area of 3,566.33sq m

  • Arrivals duty-free shop: 416.56sq m
  • Departures duty-free shop: 3,149.77sq m

As noted, bidders could submit proposals for both, but a single bidder could be awarded no more than one concession.

The tender announcement explicitly stated that if a bidder is ranked as the top candidate for both concessions, they must voluntarily withdraw from one of them.

This measure is designed to “ensure operational diversity and foster healthy competition”. 

TENDER ALERT 

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