JAPAN. Narita International Airport Corporation (NAA) has formally ended its joint ventures with ANA Duty Free and JAL-DFS as part of a planned restructuring of its retail operations at Narita Airport.
From 1 April, the NAA Retailing division controls the spaces previously operated by the partnerships.
NAA yesterday reopened the former NAA & JAL-DFS store in Terminal 1 South Wing under its proprietary Fa-So-La Duty Free banner.
In Terminal 2, it reopened the Sky Boutique Narita Soke Minamoto Kitchoan confectionery outlet, formerly managed by NAA-ANA Duty Free. The store is now trading as Fa-So-La Soke Minamoto Kitchoan.
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Naoto Kojima: Confirmed the integration of the joint ventures into NAA |
“There will be some changes to Fa-So-La Duty Free and Kitchoan, but the level of service will not change,” commented Naoto Kojima, NAA’s Senior Manager, Retail Strategy.
“The shops in Terminal 2 presently operated by NAA-ANA Duty Free will be operated by NAA Retailing,” Kojima told The Moodie Report.
NAA is proceeding as planned with renovation, he said: “The new shops will be decided soon, and begin opening in summer.”
The handover has led to the closure of boutiques operated under the joint ventures, as NAA Retailing repositions its travel retail offer.
Currently closed are Terminal 1 boutiques Cartier, Coach, Dunhill, Emporio Armani, Ralph Lauren and Salvatore Ferragamo; in Terminal 1 those affected are Dunhill, Feiler and Montblanc.
NAA is unable to provide further information until formal contracts are signed. But Kojima confirmed that new brands are planned for the boutiques that are now closed.
Also closed in Terminal 2 are three Sky Boutique Narita duty free outlets previously managed by NAA-ANA Duty Free.
NAA Retailing is confident it can minimise the interruption to trade as it implements its strategic retail plan.
“We plan to maintain sales by taking on the customers of the two predecessor companies and enhancing the brand recognition of FaSoLa shops through advertising and our website,” Kojima said.
NAA Retailing is also deciding reallocation of the spaces left vacant after the January 2011 bankruptcy of travel retailer Empire Duty Free.
“Commencing in Golden Week (May), we will begin opening most of the shops from summer through autumn,” Kojima advised.
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NAA is rebranding the former joint-venture stores under its Fa-So-La Duty Free brand, here seen at Terminal 2 |
New business terminal
On 31 March NAA opened its new business aviation terminal, Premier Gate.
The exclusive terminal for corporate travellers is on the first floor of the South Operation Centre, beside Terminal 2.
Duty free purchases can be picked up in the terminal, but there are no other retail or food & beverage facilities.
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