SAUDI ARABIA. The joint venture partnership between Gebr. Heinemann, Jordanian Duty Free Shops and Astra has struck an agreement to run the duty free contract at Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA). The Moodie Davitt Report broke the news in October that the partnership was named as preferred bidder.
The contract encompasses both Terminal 1 (with a term of seven years) and the North Terminal (five years plus an extension option).
Terminal 1, opened in 2019, is the second largest single airport terminal in the world. The new duty free offering will feature almost 6,000sq m of retail space with a further 4,000sq m of walkway space that can be redesigned in part to increase the overall footprint.
In the North Terminal, the retail offer, open to international travellers, is approximately 1,500sq m with what the airport company calls “a perfect walk-through experience for all passengers”.
In a Linkedin post, Gebr. Heinemann said: “Exciting times ahead in the Middle East for Heinemann group – one of the world-wide renowned operators of travel retail and duty free shops. We are happy we provided through one of our Heinemann subsidiaries and together with our partners from Jordanian Duty Free Shops and ASTRA Group a strong and convincing offer to Jedco KSA (Jeddah Airport Company).
“We and our partners will work hard as joint venture partners to build a new shopping experience for the future in collaboration with King Abdulaziz International Airport.”
Gebr. Heinemann Chief Sales Officer Florian Seidel commented: “Speaking in the name of Heinemann and our partners it is a great pleasure and honour to bring the Saudi Arabian Vision 2030 to life with Astra Group and Jordanian Duty Free Shops.”
Gebr. Heinemann Co-CEO Max Heinemann added: “We are very excited and committed for the journey ahead. A high degree of collaboration built around the traveller, a constant push in innovating the journey and a vision that creates change. Thank you Jedco KSA for the trust. Looking forward to whats coming ASTRA Group & Jordanian Duty Free Shops. ✈
