INDIA. Many of the world’s major travel retailers – and their Indian partners – have responded to calls for Expressions of Interest in the duty free concession at Mumbai Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA).
The list includes the following: a newly formed joint venture between India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) and Aldeasa, Flemingo India and Aer Rianta International, The Nuance Group and Shopper’s Stop, Alpha Airports Group and Pantaloon Retail, Bird Group and Aelia, Dufry and Interglobe, DFS Group, Out of Africa (a division of Tourvest) and King Power Group (Hong Kong).
The concession has seen a number of intriguing new partnerships struck between international travel retailers and local companies, including that between ITDC – which has held partnership talks with a number of global travel retailers – and Aldeasa.
ITDC signalled its intention to strike an alliance last month when it advertised for “a strong international player who can bring on board a strong brand, state-of-the-art technology, cutting-edge retailing practices as well as global sourcing and supply chain linkages”.
Dufry’s partner Interglobe is the group behind Indian low-cost carrier Indigo. Aelia’s partner Bird Group includes aviation services, travel-related services and hotel and hospitality divisions.
Mumbai International Airport Pte Ltd, which has been granted the exclusive right to develop, operate and manage CSIA for 30 years, plans to call a full tender for space at the airport later this year or early in 2007.
MORE STORIES ON MUMBAI AIRPORT
Mumbai Airport Expressions of Interest close tomorrow – 18/10/2006
