UAE. Abu Dhabi Airports today announced record first-half commercial sales of AED707.6 million (US$192.7 million), a +10.9% rise year-on-year.
The top-performing categories were food & drinks and duty free (run by DFS, pictured above, under the overarching Abu Dhabi Duty Free brand), encouraging news for those parties currently involved in highly competitive tenders for the Midfield Terminal due to open in 2017.
Growth was also posted across all of the company’s commercial activities, including specialty retail, hospitality, banking and currency exchange, car parking, advertising and the Skypark Plaza operations.
“The performance is all the more noteworthy given the reduction in Chinese spending, the changing dynamics of the Asian economies, and the currency variations that impact the value for money offered”Dan Cappell
Acting Chief Commercial Officer
Abu Dhabi AirportsThe sales increase follows an intensive 2015 marketing campaign and focus on optimising the width and breadth of the commercial offer.
The first half of 2015 has already seen ‘Spin and Win’ competitions in a number of Terminal 1 food & drinks outlets, which gave passengers the opportunity to win cash vouchers for duty free and airline tickets to multiple destinations; and prize draws for luxury cars to be won by anyone spending AED200 (US$54) in duty free.
A Porsche Panamera was given away in April, followed by a Maserati Ghibli in July. The next car available to win will be a Chevrolet Corvette in October.
Abu Dhabi International Airport also opened several stores in the first half of 2015, including Police sunglasses and Lambretta watches. CNN café, the first in the world at an airport, the Montreux Jazz Café, and Camden Food Company, added to the food & drinks portfolio.
Abu Dhabi Airports Acting Chief Commercial Officer Dan Cappell said: “The continued increase in sales is a reflection of our commitment to providing passengers with the diverse range of high quality services and offerings that they can expect at a major international airport, and having exceptional partnerships with our concessionaires.
“The performance is all the more noteworthy given the reduction in Chinese spending, the changing dynamics of the Asian economies, and the currency variations that impact the value for money offered.
“Abu Dhabi Duty Free, in conjunction with our partners, will continue to focus on improving the customer experience. Our retail and food & beverage refurbishment program will enable us to offer our passengers the widest possible choice, through exclusive offers, product launches and innovative promotional campaigns, delivering great value and excellent customer service.”
Abu Dhabi Airports is a public joint-stock company wholly owned by the Abu Dhabi Government, charged with spearheading the development of aviation infrastructure. In 2006, Abu Dhabi Airports assumed responsibility for the operation and management of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain International Airports. In 2008, it added Al Bateen Executive Airport, and Sir Bani Yas and Delma Island airports to its portfolio.
