Malta International Airport opens terminal extension as Nuance unveils walk-through store – 11/06/09

Maltese Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi inaugurates the new terminal extension


MALTA. Malta International Airport today unveiled a €25 million extension to its main passenger terminal, which includes a major expansion of commercial activities.

Notably, The Nuance Group has opened a 970sq m Tax Free walk-through store that doubles the space of its previous outlet. This means the retailer can incorporate the key categories of skincare & cosmetics, which it added to its portfolio in late 2008.

The layout follows Nuance’s new approach to core category retailing, featuring the “World of” concepts, and aims to “set new standards for retailing at small to medium-sized airports,” the company said.

As well as the main walk-through store, Nuance also opened a 145sq m Spirit of Malta destination outlet.

Malta International Airport CEO Julian Jaeger outlines what the terminal extension means for the company


Today’s inauguration was hosted by Malta International Airport CEO Julian Jäger and featured Maltese Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi as special guest.

Prime Minister Gonzi said: “Today’s inauguration of this extension is hugely significant for Malta. It shows our resilience even in times of crisis. We are the smallest member state in the EU but we are still managing to invest in and upgrade our tourism facilities in these difficult times. This is a strong vote of confidence in the economic prosperity of our country. It also aids our plan to make Malta a hub for services within this region – and, with the input of shareholder Vienna International Airport, it shows the benefits of privatisation of the airport in 2002.”

Jäger added: “Our aim is to become the best airport in our class in the Mediterranean, and we rate very highly in Europe in that regard already. With this extension, we show our faith in the future of the airport and in the future of Malta.

“I thank all of our partner airlines, and our concessionaires who have invested with us. It hasn’t been an easy process, and we have transformed the airport while continuing with full operations. We will continue to invest in Malta and in the airport. Now, our job is to fill the airport with passengers so our concessionaire partners can benefit fully from this extension. We want to ensure they get a great return on their investment.”

Among the concepts featured in the new Nuance store are a World of Wine & Champagne, a World of Cigars with its own 9sq m humidor and a World of Chocolate.

A major portion of the store is devoted to fragrances & cosmetics, a category that now boasts 335sq m compared to 170sq m previously. Major brands such as Chanel, Dior, Lancôme, Estée Lauder, Clinique and Clarins have their own dedicated studios.

Dignitaries from Malta, including the Prime Minister and the local bishop, joined senior executives from Malta Airport and from shareholder Vienna International Airport to open the impressive new airport facility


The Spirit of Malta store features hand-crafted Mdina glass, wines from the Victoria hills, local cheese with galletti, presented in a store design aimed to evoke the style of a Maltese limestone quarry, with a light blue ceiling reminiscent of the Mediterranean.

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Malta Airport transformed

The Nuance Group (Malta) General Manager Adil Raïhani said: “We are immensely proud of the development of the shopping environment at Malta Airport since we opened for business in November 2005. From a very modest offer, retail at MIA has developed into a state of the art travel retail environment that need not shy away from comparison with much larger airports.

“It is thanks to the excellent cooperation with the airport management that such pioneering launches as this [and Nuance SWIFT concept, launched two years ago] are possible, and I thank Mr Jäger and his team for their excellent cooperation.”

Jäger added: “This virtual shopping mall within MIA’s retail area is a novel walkthrough concept which forms an integral part of the terminal’s expansion. It is the result of cooperation which has evolved through the exercise of pursuing common objectives, particularly those of excelling in high standards and customer service. We are confident that together we will provide a state of the art retail product that will distinguish MIA as a role model among small and medium sized airports in the Mediterranean.”

A comprehensive review of Nuance’s store plus Malta International Airport’s commercial drive will appear soon.

Wide, sweeping walkways guide the passenger around the new Nuance walk-through store in Malta


Value for money is a critical message – as shown here at the entrance to the store


Shoppers have good views back into the store from the exit (above) as they push through into the main concourse


The team behind the store: (Left to right) Nuance (Malta) Operations Manager Paul Sainitro; General Manager (Malta), Adil Raihani; and Buying & Merchandising Director Europe Alex Anson celebrate the opening, while (right) Robbie Gill of The Design Solution, a key influence on the commercial design of the extension, reveals the thinking behind the new areas


Nuance’s destination merchandise concept Spirit of Malta aims to reflect the best local products from the Mediterranean


Passengers are attracted to the “˜hero’ beauty brands as they travel the store – with high-quality fixturing a vital feature


Peak sales: Confectionery has been one of the success stories of recent years at The Nuance Group’s business in Malta – driven by a mixture of core international brands such as Toblerone and popular local specialities


The Nuance Group’s “˜World of’ concepts underpins the approach to core categories in the new store


The Nuance Group uses its Best Price Guarantee to underline to UK passengers the price differential compared with UK supermarket Tesco’s stores, and the savings the duty free store offers versus the High Street in Malta


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