AUSTRALIA. Northern Territory Airports (NTA) has awarded Delaware North Companies (DNC) a non-exclusive master concession licence to operate the food & beverage outlets at Darwin International Airport (DIA) and Alice Springs Airport (ASA) from 1 February 2013.
Delaware North will introduce new retail concepts to both airports, and in Darwin it will be increasing the number of outlets from five to nine, with further opportunities being explored to cater for the increased traffic through the terminal. The outlets will provide travellers with more choice, more variety and will modernise the food & beverage options on offer within the terminals, NTA said. The change in operator comes at “an exciting time” for NTA, as the planning for the terminal expansion at DIA nears completion.
“Following an exhaustive evaluation process, which included input from a cross section of the Northern Territory community, we are pleased to announce Delaware North as Northern Territory Airports’ food & beverage partner moving forward,” said Northern Territory Airports Director Airline and Airport Services Jim Parashos.
“Delaware North has a fantastic track record in operating across airports and other hospitality related businesses in remote and regional parts of Australia and we’re confident they’ll be a great fit for our airports,” he said.
The extensive tender process included a challenge panel made up of representatives from a cross section of the community. The objective of the panel was to help ensure the successful provider was the right fit for NTA’s customer mix and passenger profile across both airports.
“We’re looking forward to working with NTA over the coming months to refine and further develop each of our new concepts to ensure that we meet the key criteria of variety, value and accessibility of enticing new offers across all day parts. It will be through this collaborative partnership that we will deliver a new era in food & beverage retail services across all terminals,” said Delaware North Executive Director – Travel Hospitality Services Kieran Fitzpatrick.
Bumbu to open in Darwin Airport
Delaware North has teamed up with local foodie Jimmy Shu to create a new Asian concept called Bumbu in the heart of Darwin Airport.
Bumbu will be unveiled by the middle of 2013 on the first floor offering travellers a mix of grab-and-go items as well as made-to-order favourites from the South East Asian region. Bumbu means “˜spice paste’ in Indonesian, where dishes are started by blending selected spices in a traditional stone mortar and pestle and then matched to fish, chicken, beef or vegetable dishes. The Bumbu concept is said to be the first of its kind in Australia and was developed by the concessionaire in conjunction with local Darwin restaurateur Jimmy Shu, who owns and operates the well-known Hanuman Restaurant in Darwin and Alice Springs.
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Bumbu will open by the middle of 2013 offering travellers a mix of grab-and-go items as well as made-to-order favourites from the South East Asian region |
Jim Parashos said the airport is excited about introducing Bumbu to the market. “Jimmy Shu has an outstanding reputation in the Northern Territory and we’re pleased that he’ll be working with Delaware North on the Bumbu concept.
“As the Darwin market evolves and we move into the Asian century, it’s imperative that we cater for our diverse passenger mix, especially given that Darwin is Australia’s gateway to Asia and our closest northern neighbour is Indonesia,” he said.
In addition to Bumbu, a Hungry Jacks outlet will also be introduced on the first floor during stage one of the new food & beverage build.
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A new healthier eating concept Fraiche will open on the first floor of Darwin Airport alongside Bumbu and Hungry Jacks |
Phase 2 will see the construction of a 300sq m Dome Café on the first floor and a Giancarlo Cafe & Bar near the ground floor arrivals. Dome Café will have floor-to-ceiling airside views and offer an all-day dining option with approximately 170 seats.
The third phase will complete the redevelopment and will include a new bar with airside views in the expanded domestic departures area. A secondary coffee offer on the ground floor next to check-in and a new healthier eating concept Fraiche on the first floor alongside Bumbu and Hungry Jacks will complete the current phase of expansion. Two new offers will also be unveiled in the international lounge during this phase.
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A 300sq m Dome Café will be constructed on the first floor and a Giancarlo Cafe & Bar near the ground floor arrivals of Darwin Airport |
Alice Springs Airport to introduce Cafe Terra Rosa
Delaware North has also announced a significant overhaul of existing facilities in the Alice Springs terminal with plans to redevelop the space and introduce a new look and feel that is reflective of the region.
The redevelopment will see the construction of a new outlet called Cafe Terra Rosa by the middle of 2013, which will incorporate a bar and a cafe.
Delaware North National General Manager of Operations Brad Counsel said they wanted the outlet name, which means “˜red soil’, to be broadly understood by both international and Australian travellers.
“Given the mix of passengers into central Australia, where 50% of travellers are international, we felt that a name that ran true to the surrounds was appropriate,” he said.
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The redevelopment of Alice Springs will see the opening of a new Cafe Terra Rosa outlet |
Alice Springs Airport General Manager Katie Cooper said the development of Cafe Terra Rosa will see a significant capital investment in the entire food & beverage area, modernising the look and feel as well as the menu.
“We’re opening up the front of the cafe so that meeters and greeters can comfortably wait for their family and friends arriving into the terminal while at the same time, providing an increased menu option and level of service. We have worked with DNC to provide three distinct, yet integrated zones within the footprint,” she said.
The entrance will offer bench and comfort style seating. The main zone will provide a mix of individual tables and chairs, large communal tables for groups as well as bar style seating. The corner zone has comfort seating and lounges for those who will enjoy the facilities for longer periods of time.
Other facilities that have been incorporated into the new construction include televisions and power points for customers to charge their technology and travel accessories, while they relax and enjoy the facilities. The airport’s complimentary Wi-Fi and outside native gardens will continue to be accessible to airport users in this new area.
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