FIJI. Airports Fiji Limited (AFL) is evaluating 13 Expressions of Interest and will issue tenders in the fourth quarter of this year for expanded Arrivals space at Nadi International Airport.
Existing concessionaires Motibhai and Tappoo submitted Expressions of Interest, as did an unprecedented number of international businesses – two from Australia, one New Zealand, one Indian and one representing an international brand.
“For us here in Fiji and for our company that’s quite exciting, to see that the big corporates and brand concessions are interested in spreading their wings down here to Nadi International Airport,” AFL General Manager Commercial Lavinia Kaumaitotoya told The Moodie Report. “It’s exciting times ahead for AFL.”
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Exciting times for Airports Fiji Limited as interest in the Arrivals contract intensifies: (Left to right) AFL General Manager Commercial Lavinia Kaumaitotoya and AFL General Manager Finance and IT Chaminda Ratnayake | |
AFL’s Board is reviewing the Expressions of Interest and will approve the final concept prior to issuing a request for proposals. Kaumaitotoya says that a consensus is emerging around a walkthrough concept for the additional space.
AFL General Manager Finance and IT Chaminda Ratnayake commented: “We are going to the Arrivals concept with a very open mind.
“We want to work with people who have expressed an interest – it could be a percentage of income, it could be a minimum guarantee. We haven’t made a decision on that.”
Nadi International Airport has recorded a steady recovery in passenger numbers through 2008 thanks to tourism industry specials to encourage Australian and New Zealand holidaymakers after the December 2006 military coup.
The LAGs era has seen an increased proportion of liquor and beauty spend go through Arrivals stores. Nadi International currently has two small Arrivals outlets adjacent to its baggage claim area, one a Prouds store operated by the Motibhai Group, the other a Tappoo store.
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Nadi Airport currently has two Arrivals outlets, one operated by the Motibhai Group (top left), the other by Tappoo (right) | |
AFL will create new areas in the order of 584sq m in the Arrivals Landing Lounge and 282sq m in the Arrivals Baggage Hall.
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Nadi Airport spreads its wings Airports Fiji Limited General Manager Commercial Lavinia Kaumaitotoya talks about the upcoming commercial developments at Nadi Airport |
Currently AFL is completing an extension of the Tappoo Group’s Departures Duty Free Group, adding about 560sq m.
“For us the product offering and the increased concession revenue that this will bring to us is exciting,” said Kaumaitotoya. “We have been working step by step with the Tappoo Group to realise this opportunity and hopefully we will see a first quarter [2009] opening of their new shop.”
*NOTE: Peter Dowling is The Moodie Report’s Special Correspondent for Latin America and Asia Pacific. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, he can be contacted at pdaz@clear.net.nz
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