LITHUANIA. Lithuanian Airports has launched a Request for Proposals (RFP) for more than 2,500sq m of duty-free space across four stores in Vilnius International and Kaunas International airports.
The contract will run from January 2025 to the end of 2033. The opportunities cover Schengen (1,300sq m) and non-Schengen (585sq m) walk-through stores at Vilnius and a Schengen walk-through store (585sq m) and non-Schengen walk-in store (100sq m) at Kaunas.
The space allocated is a significant increase on the store sizes currently operated by duty-free incumbent Gebr. Heinemann, with extensive infrastructure development projects in progress at both airports.
It is estimated that by 2025, these passenger terminal expansion programmes will enable Lithuanian Airports to reach a capacity of more than ten million passengers per year, doubling current capacity across Vilnius and Kaunas airports.
Lithuanian Airports Chief Commercial Officer Gintare Norvilaite-Tautevice confirmed to The Moodie Davitt Report that her company is seeking a single operator for the four duty-free stores.
She told us: “We believe that combining business in both airports provides synergy and optimisation as well as economies of scale, with less overhead and more negotiation power with suppliers, which in turn allows the operators to make a better financial offer for the airports and a better pricing offer for passengers.”
Norvilaite-Tautevice also gave details of the latest food & beverage RFP for six units at Vilnius Airport, in spaces covering 340, 241, 216, 131, 100 and 52sq m. “We are looking for a strong operator that has a lot of brands in its portfolio as well as financial capabilities to invest in a project of this scope,” she noted.
A second, three-unit Vilnius Airport F&B RFP will be launched in August.
Underlining the attractiveness of the duty-free and F&B opportunities, Norvilaite-Tautevice pointed to expected passenger growth of about +5% per annum, a growing number of airlines using the airports, their proximity to major Lithuanian cities and the growing Lithuanian economy.
She also highlighted Lithuanian Airports’ “laser focus” on customer experience, bolstered by its mystery shopper programme, participation in Airports International Council’s Airport Service Quality (ASQ) indicator surveys and Lithuanian Airports’ recent achievement of Level 1 Customer Experience accreditation from ASQ.
“It will be a long time before an opportunity like this with Lithuanian Airports arises again,” Norvilaite-Tautevice concluded. “Given our projected growth path and focus on customer experience, we expect strong interest from international operators for all of the opportunities.”
The closing date for the duty-free and F&B tender applications is 24 September and 8 August, respectively. For more information contact g.norvilaite-tautevice@ltou.lt. ✈
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