SPAIN. Two key lots in the high-profile Aena duty free tender covering 27 Spanish airports – Lot 1 Madrid Barajas Airport and Lot 4 Cataluña airports (Barcelona-El Prat, Gerona and Reus) – have failed to attract bids, the airport operator has revealed. The first bid deadline passed on Wednesday this week.
The four airports account for 44% of the Minimum Annual Guaranteed Rents (MAGR) across the Spanish airport duty free network, as stated in tender documents.
A statement from Aena confirmed that bids have been received for the other four duty free lots (covering Andalusia-Levante airports; Canary Islands airports, Balearic Islands airports and Northern Spain airports), which make up the remaining 56% of the MAGR.
The note from the company said: “Simultaneously to the assessment of the offers presented, the start of a new bidding process will be proposed to the Board of Directors of Aena in the near future for Lots 1 and 4.”
Aena said that as part of this new process, the clause (included in the current lease agreements) establishing that the existing tenant [Dufry] should continue running the operations of the relevant shops until a new award is made, for a maximum period of six months from the date of completion of the current contracts [31 October 2023], might be triggered.
The tender was launched in December last year, billed as the world’s largest duty free tender with an estimated value of €18 billion over the 12-year contract durations. Together, the duty free concessions will occupy an approximate retail surface area of 66,000sq m.
Some 13 companies representing ten large international duty free groups showed interest during the first phase.
The major groups that expressed initial interest in bidding included incumbent Dufry plus other Europe-based groups, Lagardère Travel Retail, Aer Rianta International and Setur Duty Free of Türkiye.
Others included China Duty Free Group, Hotel Shilla (parent of The Shilla Duty Free), Bahrain Duty Free, GMR Airports of India, and UETA (controlled by Duty Free Americas).
As reported, German travel retailer Gebr. Heinemann withdrew from the race in February.
In a statement to The Moodie Davitt Report, Spanish Association of Commercial Operators of Airports, Ports and Stations (AEOCAPE) Director General Carlos Gallego described the absence of bids for Madrid and Cataluña airports as “a serious blow to Aena”.
He said: “This shows that the commercial model of the Spanish airport operator is obsolete. Heinemann pointed the way weeks ago by refusing to submit any bids; today, the big retailers are continuing along this path, i.e. in the travel retail business, all three parties – airports, retailers and passengers – have to win.”
Gallego added: “Normality will not return until the operators recover from the financial problems of the pandemic, and airports can no longer tender under the old rules. In our view, the pandemic offered a priceless opportunity for all parties to engage in dialogue for the good of all.”
Note: The Moodie Davitt Report is the industry’s most popular channel for launching commercial proposals and for publishing the results. If you wish to promote an Expression of Interest, Request for Proposals or full tender process for any sector of airport or other travel-related infrastructure revenues, simply e-mail Martin Moodie at Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com.
We have a variety of options that will ensure you reach the widest, most high-quality concessionaire/retailer/operator base in the industry – globally and immediately.
The Moodie Davitt Report is the only international business media to cover all airport or other travel-related consumer services, revenue-generating and otherwise. Our reporting includes duty free and other retail, food & beverage, property, passenger lounges, art and culture, hotels, car parking, medical facilities, the Internet, advertising and related revenue streams.
Please send relevant material, including images, to Martin Moodie at Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com for instant, quality global coverage.