AUSTRALIA. Gold Coast Airport duty free concessionaire Duty Free Stores New Zealand is reorienting its offer towards more Asian customers. The changed focus comes ahead of a major store renovation in 2009 after the airport opens its renovated multi-user terminal.
The inauguration of AirAsia X services in November 2007 has re-established an Asian customer profile at the airport in Coolangatta, following the cessation of Australian Airlines services in mid-2006.
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“There are terrific opportunities for Gold Coast Airport. New airlines will be coming in and the region has no shortage of tourist attractions“ |
Grant Archibald Chief Executive Duty Free Stores New Zealand |
AirAsia X is now moving to expand from four flights weekly to a daily service between Kuala Lumpur and Coolangatta, and airport management is seeking to attract more Asian services to the sun and surf gateway.
Jetstar announced on 20 May its plans to introduce a daily Gold Coast-Osaka service in addition to a five-times weekly tag service on an Osaka-Gold Coast-Sydney route, commencing 1 October 2008.
Duty Free Stores New Zealand Chief Executive Grant Archibald told The Moodie Report that the revival of Asian traffic is motivating a broadening of the retailer’s destination merchandise, fashion and watch ranges – without taking away from the existing orientation towards low-cost services.
“The business model has always been based on low-cost trans-Tasman flights, so the core categories are liquor, tobacco, fragrances and cosmetics,” said Archibald.
The major trans-Tasman carrier at Coolangatta to date has been Freedom Air, the Air New Zealand low-cost subsidiary that the parent company reabsorbed on 1 April 2008.
Extension of the airport runway and the doubling in size of the terminal to 27,000sq m offer significant upside to business at Gold Coast Airport, Archibald said.
“We hope to start building our new Arrivals and Departures stores in early 2009, which will enable us to target Asian traffic more effectively beside our core Australian and New Zealand customers.
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An aerial view of the Gold Coast Airport runway – and of one of the world’s great coastlines |
“There are terrific opportunities for Gold Coast Airport. It has a very smart management team, new airlines will be coming in, and the region has no shortage of tourist attractions.”
Gold Coast Airport Chief Operating Officer Paul Donovan welcomed the 20 May announcement of Jetstar’s services to Osaka. “We are thrilled we will soon be welcoming the Osaka service into the Gold Coast – it will not only provide additional low-cost services for international travellers, but also give locals yet another option for international travel.
“The terminal expansion currently underway, which will include international facilities targeted directly to the low-cost carriers for fast turnarounds, was an alluring prospect for Jetstar, but ultimately it was the lure of the Gold Coast as a whole that finally clinched the deal,” Donovan said.
About Duty Free Stores New Zealand
Headquartered in Wellington, Duty Free Stores New Zealand operates duty free outlets at Dunedin, Hamilton, Queenstown and Wellington airports in New Zealand, and Adelaide and Gold Coast airports in Australia. Established by industry pioneer Don Archibald, the business is now managed by Grant Archibald.
About Gold Coast Airport
Gold Coast Airport Pty Ltd (GCAPL) has the responsibility of ensuring that Gold Coast Airport is developed to accommodate the air transport demands of the Gold Coast and Northern New South Wales communities. It is owned and operated by Queensland Airports Limited, which also owns Townsville and Mount Isa airports. The Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation recognised Gold Coast Airport as Asia Pacific’s Low Cost Airport of the Year 2007.
* NOTE: Peter Dowling, based in Auckland, New Zealand, is The Moodie Report’s Special Correspondent for Latin America and Asia Pacific. He can be contacted at pdaz@clear.net.nz
MORE STORIES ON DUTY FREE STORES NEW ZEALAND
Wellington Airport unveils stunning new design for international passenger terminal – 19/02/08
Website of the Week: Duty Free Stores New Zealand – 26/07/07
Online innovation becomes virtual reality for Duty Free Stores New Zealand – 24/07/07
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