SAUDI ARABIA. Changi Airports Saudi Arabia (CASA) has hailed the “overwhelming response” to its call for proposals for food & beverage (F&B) concessions at the new Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA).
As reported, CASA, the management company for the new airport, recently issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for five dining concessions (two restaurants and three cafés) in the Check-In Hall, covering seven units in total. The airport is scheduled to open later this year.
More than 80 representatives from over 30 local and global brands attended a pre-proposal briefing in late January for the first tranche of the F&B concessions. The deadline for submissions is 22 February.
CASA will soon release other proposals for a wide range of concessions, including additional F&B outlets. Nearly 10,000sq ft in the new airport’s departures zone has been set aside for dining, noted CASA.
CASA CEO designate Sher Khan said: “We are looking at curating and introducing innovative, and refreshing concepts that will excite our guests and enhance their travel experience at the new KAIA. The airport will host passengers and visitors from the Kingdom and all over the world. We want to offer them a wide range of choices, from the familiarity of international cuisines from fast food and gourmet food to Saudi delicacies. We want to showcase Saudi Arabia’s exquisite food culture alongside renowned international F&B names.”
Potential bidders were also encouraged to consider value propositions that suit the needs of the diverse passenger profiles at the new KAIA. Apart from business and leisure travellers, the airport will host many pilgrims, due to its close proximity to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
This is the first tranche of concessions out of over 40 packages covering more than 100 locations in the new passenger terminal. The other concessions will include duty free, duty paid speciality retail, car parking and passenger services such as telecommunications, financial services and car rental.
As reported, CASA is a consortium led by Changi Airports International. It was awarded the contract to operate and develop the new KAIA for 20 years by the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation in May 2017.
The new KAIA will serve Saudi Arabia’s key commercial centre and the second largest city, Jeddah. It is the gateway to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. The new facility will ultimately increase airport capacity in Jeddah from over 30 million passengers a year to 80 million.
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