All 24 duty-free shops at Vaclav Havel Airport in Prague will probably be operated by Lagardére Travel Retail from Paris Lagardére group, for eight billion crowns for ten years.
The 24 rented duty-free shops have an area of nearly 4400 square meters. The contract also includes new Aelia Duty-free, a so-called walk-through zone that Lagardére is already operating. The business units that were the subject of the tender will be handed over to the winning company on 1 January 2020.
Afterward, the reconstruction of the shops will begin, even while operating. Part of the space will be available to passengers once again at the end of March next year, and all of them will be open by 30 June 2020 at the latest.
Lagardére will sell 767 brands in the stores, of which 140 will be new. Over 80 brands will be local, and some 90 product lines will be available only at the airport.
The multinational Lagardére competed with the Swiss Dufry group and the German Heinemann in the concession procedure. According to the airport, the winner was chosen 50% because of the rent offered and 50% because of the quality of services. For example, Lagardére offers staff with a wide range of language skills, emphasising Asian languages, an emphasis on online sales or a loyalty portal.
According to the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Prague Airport, Václav Řehoř, a new duty-free tenant will help to ensure that non-aviation revenues from the airport, such as store revenues, are equal to revenues from air services.