Auckland Airport has officially announced Lagardère Travel Retail as its new duty-free partner, awarding the company an eight-year contract after a global Request for Proposal (RFP) process. The contract, set to begin on July 1, is pending approval from the Overseas Investment Office.
LagardèreAWPL, the current incumbent trading as Aelia Duty Free, initially bid alone for the four-store departures and arrivals shopping concession. The French company triumphed over tough competition, which included Avolta and two major Indian aviation firms, GMR Airports and Adani Airports.
Mark Thomson, Chief Commercial Officer at Auckland Airport, expressed confidence that Lagardère Travel Retail would elevate the duty-free shopping experience. The company plans to introduce a comprehensive suite of top global brands and undertake a full refurbishment of all duty-free stores, including a significant overhaul of the departures area.
“Auckland Airport sees more than nine million international travellers annually. They are looking for competitive prices, world-class brands, and exceptional retail experiences as part of their journey,” said Thomson.
