DFS wins seven-year duty free contract extension at New York JFK T4

US.. DFS announced today that its duty free concession lease at New York John F. Kennedy International Airport Terminal 4 has been extended by JFK International Air Terminal LLC (JFKIAT) for a further seven years.

JFKIAT operates T4 under a lease with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

The new lease is expected to commence in June 2013 and includes a mutual option for a further three-year extension.

The vital extension comes at a time when JFKIAT is immersed in an extensive terminal enhancement project that includes renovating, expanding and upgrading concession facilities and services at the privately-operated terminal. As part of the agreement, DFS will invest US$10 million in the development of new duty free concession facilities with a commitment to spend US$4 million more on facilities if the option to extend is exercised.

“JFKIAT is very important to DFS,” said Polly Nelson, Managing Director of DFS North America. “We have been the duty free concession operator since the terminal opened in 2001.

“We are thrilled with this lease extension and look forward to developing exciting new stores full of the world’s best-known brands at duty and tax free prices and to providing international and domestic travellers at Terminal 4 with a wonderful shopping experience.”

DFS said it will be developing a total of seven duty free shops within Terminal 4, encompassing a total of nearly 21,000sq ft. Three of the spaces are within T4’s “˜retail hall’ and are centrally located at the main entrance to the Hall. The remaining spaces are on Concourses A and B.

“Terminal 4 serves a diverse range of passengers from all over the world. Over the years, DFS has demonstrated its ability to cater to the many different nationalities departing from Terminal 4, especially the European and South American passengers who make up a major share of our market,” said Alain Maca, President of JFKIAT LLC.

“DFS has proven adept at providing a mix of brands and merchandise that our passengers desire and we look forward to working together to taking our retail concession to the next level.”

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