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Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond is piped in to unveil the ambitious Glasgow Airport terminal extension |
SCOTLAND. BAA Glasgow yesterday formally unveiled the latest phase of its £31 million terminal extension at Glasgow Airport.
A new £12 million security search area, replacing the existing three search areas, was opened by Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond.
All departing passengers, domestic and international, are now routed through this centralised facility. They then enter a much expanded, completely walkthrough World Duty Free store.
The 4,000sq m development also includes a new ground floor UK arrivals hall, more space to relax, and further new shops, bars and restaurants.
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Amanda McMillan: “Providing a better airport experience for our passengers now and into the future” |
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Alex Salmond: “This extension is particularly welcome ahead of Homecoming 2009 and the 2014 Commonwealth Games” |
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Amanda McMillan and Alex Salmond cut the ceremonial cake to celebrate the opening |
The third and final stage of the £31 million investment project will see further improvements as the former security search areas, currently closed to passengers, are transformed into seating areas, fashion stores and catering outlets.
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Carol Neaves: “This has brought a state-of-the art shopping experience to our passengers in Glasgow” |
BAA Glasgow Managing Director Amanda McMillan said: “This investment will provide the capacity we need to develop Glasgow Airport into a modern 21st century gateway for the west of Scotland. It is a project of which we can be rightly proud, delivered on time and on budget, and providing a better airport experience for our passengers now and into the future.”
She said that BAA Glasgow would continue to invest heavily in passenger facilities over the next decade, including a multi-million pound upgrading and refurbishing of the terminal building in advance of the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
First Minister Alex Salmond said: “This extension is particularly welcome ahead of Homecoming 2009 and the 2014 Commonwealth Games as both events will see an increase in the number of people travelling to and from Scotland.
“Homecoming 2009 is a year-long celebration of the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns and Scotland’s great contributions to the world… I am delighted that visitors to and from Scotland, travelling through Glasgow Airport, will enjoy these impressive new facilities.”
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The new store is completely walkthough – for international and domestic passengers |
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World Duty Free engages passengers with high profile promotions and extensive sampling in beauty and liquor |
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Scotch whisky is key to any Scottish airport shopping offer and World Duty Free does it proud in Glasgow |
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‘Content-tainment’ may be an ugly word but it’s an attractive concept that brings brands to life in-store |
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The Chanel stand-alone beauty boutique, visible from early in the store, is a major customer beacon |
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Space for cigarettes has been reduced by about -50% but sales have shot up at the new store |
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Scots are notorious for their sweet tooth and so confectionery is an especially key category here |
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Sunglasses, merchandised simply and effectively, are a core part of a diverse accessories offer at the end of the store |
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Note the chic point-of-sale area, featuring vibrant brand communication via plasma screeens behind the counter staff |
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Carol Neaves on World Duty Free’s Glasgow expansion |
After the formal opening of the facility, The Moodie Report and other media toured the new, expanded World Duty Free store with General Manager Scottish Airports Carol Neaves.
The gleaming walkthrough store which opened on 28 October is segmented into three zones, differentiated not only by their product offer but by the type of music played in each.
Beauty, the key category, will be further expanded as current temporary fixtures are replaced by a permanent area that will feature an extensive emphasis on personalisation. Already a major Chanel stand-alone boutique is on offer and this will be complemented in coming weeks by other heavyweight brands.
Store space has been increased from around 6,000sq ft to approximately 10,000sq ft. The new store serves both international and domestic passengers. “Every single passenger who departs Glasgow Airport now has the experience of World Duty Free,” Neaves said.
Besides the expanded beauty selection, the offer is highlighted by a much-expanded Scotch whisky range, including a focus on rare single malt whiskies.
“We’ve had some fantastic results from this shop,” Neaves told The Moodie Report. “Our sales have grown +60% year-on-year. The customer experience is hugely enhanced.
“The environment is extremely ambient – we have three different music zones so we change the mood for the customers as they walk through the store. And we have fantastic advertising on the “˜content-tainment’ screens [in the centre of the store -Ed]. This has brought a state-of-the art shopping experience to our passengers in Glasgow.”
Click on the arrow in the video screen to view |
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