Successfully optimising retail space from existing airport facilities

Abstract

This paper is based on a presentation given at the ACI Europe Trading Conference in Porto in April 2009. The aviation industry today is facing a series of unprecedented challenges and airport retailing is not immune with falling passenger numbers and changing consumer spending patterns. As businesses strive to indentify strategies in response, this paper looks at the key area of retail space. Investment in providing the optimum quantity and quality of retail space is vital for success going forward. Benchmarking has shown how much retail space should be provided and the close link between space and sales, but it is also necessary to ensure that investment in passenger processing and creating an exciting retail environment is carried out. At Macquarie, this strategy is fully embraced and case studies are described here from Macquarie's airports.