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Prague Airport: Plans to build duty free penetration and spend with a new walk-through solution, in partnership with Aelia Duty Free |
CZECH REPUBLIC. Prague Airport plans to invest CZK230 million (€8.5 million) to modernise and expand the airport’s duty free zones and create a new walk-through concept.
The upgrade, which will be co-financed by key retail partner Aelia Duty Free, will significantly increase footfall and sales in the duty free areas, the airport told The Moodie Report.
According to Marika Janouskova, External Communications Manager of Czech Aeroholding and Spokesperson for Prague Airport, the airport expects the project to bring an increase in revenues in the range of +20% to +30%, once the investment is completed.
“Prague Airport has agreed with Aelia, the main duty free operator at Prague Airport, to jointly invest CZK230 million in a new commercial layout [which] is part of the long-term plan to improve the profitability of the [airport’s] non-aviation business,” Janouskova told The Moodie Report. “One of the objectives is also to implement at both terminals, T1 and T2, a walk-through concept that has been [employed] by many airports around the world.”
Janouskova said that the concept “brings higher added value to passengers” which use the airport.
Aelia Czech Republic is a joint venture between Aelia Group and HDS Retail Czech Republic, each a division of Lagardère Travel Retail. Currently, more than 80% of the available retail surface in Prague is leased by Aelia Duty Free. The airport also houses retail outlets run by Dufry.
In the Czech market, Aelia operates duty free shops at airports in Prague, Karlovy Vary and Ostrava, as well as provides onboard sales for Czech Airlines.
Most of the retail leases at Prague will expire by 2019, Czech Aeroholding Group CEO Vaclav Rehor told local daily Mlada fronta DNES in a recent interview. With the new duty free zone in place by then, the airport company said it would aim to negotiate improved contracts with retailers.
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Most retail concessions run to 2019, according to the airport |
