Lagardère Travel Retail wins new exclusive master concession at Madinah airport, KSA.
Paris, 31st August 2022 – Lagardère Travel Retail has been awarded an exclusive master concession contract to operate 14 new Duty Free and retail spaces at Prince Mohammed Bin Abdul Aziz International Airport, Madinah, Saudi Arabia. By starting new operations at Madinah Airport, Lagardère Travel Retail confirms its growth ambitions in the Kingdom and becomes the only Duty Free operator across the country’s four main international airports.
Lagardère Travel Retail operating as the lead partner in the joint-venture company, Saudi French Company for Duty Free Operations and Management, has been chosen to operate new Duty Free and retail stores at Prince Mohammed Bin Abdul Aziz International Airport in Madinah under a master concession agreement, with effect from December 2022. This win marks an important step in the Group’s efforts to consolidate all Duty Free operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and confirms its leading position as the only Duty Free operator to have a footprint across the country’s four most important international airports.
The new outlets will cover a total commercial surface of 1,900 sqm, including 614 sqm dedicated to Duty Free stores. Under the world-renowned Aelia Duty Free and Relay brands, the stores will feature all Duty Free core business categories, travel accessories and souvenirs and snacking. Further developments at the airport will also present Lagardère Travel Retail with an opportunity to create new bespoke concepts to continuously meet and exceed the needs of passengers at the airport.
Under this new partnership, Lagardère Travel Retail will work closely with the Kingdom’s airport authorities to contribute to the promotion and growth of travel & tourism sectors as part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
Commenting on this announcement, Vincent Romet, CEO Lagardère Travel Retail France & Luxembourg and COO Middle East & KSA said: “We’re extremely proud to have been awarded this contract and to be offered the opportunity to create unique shopping experiences to more travelers in the Kingdom. Our local teams are committed to deliver the highest standards of operational excellence to our airport partners and we are all hands-on deck to get ready to start the new operations before the year ends. Saudi Arabia is an extremely dynamic market, with opportunities to further grow our portfolio and we are very excited to open this new chapter and further consolidate the roots we’ve planted there.”