Aldeasa opens eight new stores in stunning new terminal at Barcelona El Prat Airport – 18/06/09

SPAIN. Following the official inauguration of the new Terminal 1 at Barcelona El Prat Airport on Tuesday, Spanish travel retailer Aldeasa yesterday opened eight stores.

Click here to take a virtual tour of the new Terminal 1 at Barcelona International Airport

The new stores, representing a €4 million investment by Aldeasa, cover 2,480sq m in Aeropuertos Españoles y Navegatión Aérea’s (AENA) shopping space “˜Las Tiendas del Aeropuerto’ in both the arrivals and departures areas.

The Moodie Report toured the new terminal yesterday along with a number of Aldeasa executives. Our detailed report and Picture Gallery will follow later today – and look out for a special edition of The Moodie Report PLUS (in PDF format) dedicated to the spectacular new terminal’s impressive commercial offer, coming next week.

The stores represent a change of image for Aldeasa, as the design follows the architecture and color palette of the stunning new terminal. Consequently Aldeasa has used a black and white combination for both the furniture and interior design elements of the stores.

Pedro Castro: “Barcelona is the capital of design and one of Aldeasa’s most important markets, where we have been present for a very long time. We wanted to live up to the challenge and I think we have made it.”


Given the terminal’s diverse passenger base, Aldeasa said it has developed a new shopping concept based on an “integral, comfortable and swift service, an excellent variety of products, and extremely high quality standards”.

It noted: “The latest technologies have also been used to keep customers informed of what goes on at the store: specific offers and promotions, open cashiers, and fast cashiers exclusive to arriving passengers.”

A large screen has been installed as a video wall at the promotional area, as well as fixed and mobile plasma screens around strategic spots in the stores and the exit cashiers.

The stand-alone Thinking Barcelona destination merchandise store sells local produce and souvenirs by Catalan designers in a setting reminiscent of Antoni Gaudí’s works.

In addition, Aldeasa is operating four duty free stores (including two Express Shops). Its T1 offer includes a men’s fashion shop that stocks Lacoste, Hugo Boss, Calvin Klein Jeans, Gant, and Timberland; and a faux jewelry and gifts store offering faux jewelry and gifts signed by such international brands as Swarovski, Folli Follie and Majorica.

Soon it will also open a Tous watches and accessories store, featuring the Catalan brand as well as other upscale names, including Longines, Tag Heuer, Baume & Mercier, Ck and Tissot watches.

Aldeasa Director of National Operations Pedro Castro said: “Being world leaders in the airport retail business requires that we are always in the vanguard of design and customer service. Barcelona is also the capital of design and one of Aldeasa’s most important markets, where we have been present for a very long time. We wanted to live up to the challenge and I think we have made it.”

Aldeasa has created 100 new jobs in Catalonia as a result of its investment in Barcelona.

Full report and Picture Gallery to follow.

Aldeasa’s main duty free and travel retail store at the new terminal offers an open frontage and a spacious ambience


A Sense of Place: Aldeasa has championed destination merchandise in style with ‘Thinking Barcelona’


A sense of space: Note the striking black and white colours inside the main store and the way Aldeasa has managed to offset a very low ceiling to create an elegant and roomy in-store environment in keeping with the ambience of Terminal 1


The spacious, light and airy Sky Centre houses most of Terminal 1’s shops and restaurants


An aerial image of Terminal 1 showing the car park, the terminal building and the aircraft parking zone.


MORE STORIES ABOUT ALDEASA

Red-letter day for Barcelona El Prat Airport as new Terminal 1 opens; retail to the fore – 16/06/09

“˜Trend in traffic stabilising,’ says Autogrill amid solid first-quarter operating results – 14/05/09

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