NEW ZEALAND. Lagardère Travel Retail Chairman & CEO Dag Rasmussen has expressed his delight at the extension of Aelia Duty Free’s contract at Auckland Airport until mid-2025 after the airport company opted for a single retailer model from September 2023.
Rasmussen said, “Aelia Duty Free is known for delivering world-class experiences across the globe, and Lagardère Travel Retail is proud to continue to do so in Auckland with this contract extension through Lagardère AWPL in the Pacific.”
Auckland Airport announced the decision yesterday, meaning that from September 2023, after The Loop Duty Free (Aer Rianta International) completes its contract term, Aelia Duty Free will operate both the arrivals and departures duty free concessions alone.
This is in line with international norms across large, medium and small airports around the globe, with very few exceptions, The Moodie Davitt Report can confirm from its own independent analysis.
For the duty free business post mid-2025, the airport company will conduct a new tender process (likely to begin in 2024).
Lagardère Travel Retail Group CFO and COO-Pacific Luc Mansion added: “Auckland Airport have been an important partner for Lagardère Travel Retail and now Lagardère AWPL in the Pacific region. We are thankful for their belief in our vision and to now partner with them to deliver the first single-operator duty free experience through Aelia Duty Free.”
Lagardère AWPL said travellers can expect Aelia Duty Free to continue delivering a world-class experience across arrivals and departures throughout the transition, with additional investments in brands, experiences, and sustainability to be major features of the expanded, single-retailer platform.
Lagardère AWPL Co-CEOs Przemek Lesniak and Costa Kouros said: “The Lagardère AWPL family has worked hard to develop and present our vision for Aelia Duty Free at Auckland Airport, and we are now looking forward to delivering more magical moments and innovative experiences together with the airport through the single-operator model.”
The expanded Aelia Duty is planned to open in September 2023.
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