Spain’s airport operator Aena plans to launch a duty free tender in the final quarter of 2022, TRBusiness can confirm.

Aena will invite bids for concessions spanning duty free shops at 26 airports across the network, translating to 88 points of sale over more than 43,000sq m.

The new concessions will come into force in November 2023.

In a statement offered to this publication, Aena said ‘the goal is to maximise the value of this business by attracting international operators and incorporating new market trends’.

TRBusiness has contacted Aena for further comment.

ADVISOR TO LEAD TENDER PREPARATION

At present, Aena has four contracts covering retail and commercial services throughout the network operated by Dufry.

It renewed its concessions in 2019 for an initial three years with the option of a two-year extension, however, Spain’s Congress of Deputies passed a law on Thursday 23 September modifying how minimum annual guarantees (MAGs) are calculated with the new law expected to ‘materially reduce’ the MAG claimed by Aena.

Dufry’s contracts will now end on 31 October 2023.

The airport operator says the tender ‘is the largest in the world’s airport industry in this area in terms of turnover’.

An advisor will be appointed to design the tender strategy and establish a contractual relationship with potential operators.

Based on the advice, Aena will identify a business model to establish the suitable contractual relationship; attract the largest number of international bids; diversify the business; adapt to changing passenger trends; and incorporate and boost the development and implementation of new technologies.

The advisory contract lasting up to 36 months will include the preparation, drafting and tracking of the tender documents and the bidding process.

It will also concentrate on an in-depth analysis of the duty free shopping business globally.

For previous articles related to the above, click the relevant links:

Dufry/Aena on Spain concessions change

Law change in Spain helps Dufry as concession fees linked to actual pax