SPAIN. The Spanish Association of Commercial Operators of Airports, Ports and Stations (AEOCAPE) has been established to develop and promote a sustainable commercial contract model for large passenger mobility nodes in Spain.
Born out of the Spanish Association of Airport Commercial Operators (AEOCA), the new trade body’s objectives include the study and promotion of solutions and initiatives aimed at modernising the concession model “in all of its dimensions”.
Other objectives include the protection of the collective interests of the new organisation’s members, “with full respect for the rules of defence of competition”.
Among the initial members of the association are big names from the travel retail industry including World Duty Free Group (Dufry), Areas, Ibersol Group and SSP. They are joined by smaller commercial operators including Zea Retail, Crystal Travel Retail, Airfoods and La Mallorquina.
Other members include McDonald’s, Eurodivisas, Alsa, Teika Vending, Ibérica Shop, El Market, Somarriba, Safebag, Exactta, Santander, Olaizola Pharmacy and Premiere Alimentación.
AEOCAPE Director General Carlos Gallego said: “The Association has as its immediate objective to contribute to the solution of the differences between operators and public authorities in the conviction that the restoration of the commercial ecosystem in all transport nodes is urgent.”
According to Gallego, AEOCAPE considers the pandemic an opportunity to learn from the past in order to protect the players in the travel retail market “in the face of situations experienced as the COVID-19 crisis”. In seeking to develop a sustainable business model, he said the organisation will look into future changes in passenger behaviour and consumption habits.
In addition to Gallego, AEOCAPE’s Board of Directors includes Association President Manuel Zea (CEO of Zea Retail) and Secretary José Miguel Enrique (CEO of Airfoods).
In a statement, AEOCAPE said it seeks to promote and defend good practices among public authorities in the processes of granting concessions, ensuring the viability and sustainability of projects and the transparency and objectivity of bidding procedures.
The statement said: “AEOCAPE reaches out to the managers of the passenger infrastructure nodes with the aim of reaching agreements with all of them and collaborating in the improvement of commercial models.”
