Travel retail operator Nuance, a Dufry subsidiary, has been re-appointed as the duty-free partner for Melbourne Airport in Australia.
The new contract will run until 2022 and includes the complete renovation of the duty free offering in Terminal 2 (T2). Works will take place over the next year and will result in a 30% increase in the overall duty-free retail footprint of T2. When completed, the renovated departures store will boast a floor area of nearly 30,000ft², with the new arrivals store covering nearly 12,000ft².
Andrew Gardiner, customer executive at Melbourne Airport, said, “The growth of our international duty-free retail offering underpins a critical component of Melbourne Airport’s retail transformation. When complete, local and international visitors to the airport will benefit from a duty-free retail experience that is in keeping with Melbourne’s renowned reputation as the fashion and retail capital of Australia.
“Melbourne Airport is fast becoming a preferred international gateway for many overseas visitors, especially Chinese travelers, where we have seen a 24% year-on-year increase in 2015. It is our ambition to make Victorians as proud of the airport as they are of our great city and to deliver a world-class experience to our international visitors.”
Julian Diaz, CEO, Dufry, said, “As its transformation journey continues, Melbourne Airport offers one of the most exciting expansion opportunities for Dufry’s duty-free retail business in Asia – evolving well beyond our prior presence through our Nuance subsidiary. We thank Melbourne Airport for the renewal of this longstanding partnership and the trust put in our company and our local teams.
“As the only major airport in Australia that offers 24/7 operations and strong international passenger growth, Melbourne Airport’s approach has been one of partnership and we look forward to getting started on delivering our duty-free retail vision and concept. Furthermore, this contract is an important step in our strategy to further expand our footprint across Asia.”