Vinci Airports is clearly delighted with its purchase of Aeroportos de Portugal (ANA) and the contract to run Portugal’s airports with management noting strong traffic growth.
In fact, Portugal’s airports showed the highest growth in passenger traffic, over the second quarter of 2017 of all the airports under Vinci Airports’ management.
A 20.6% rise compared to the same period in 2016, “reflects the strong performance of TAP, which has been benefiting from the recovery in routes to Brazil and the opening of new destinations.”
Vinci Airports also points to the development of low-cost traffic which has boosted throughput with double digit growth from key operators.
Vinci Airports achieved positive results in France, with "sustained growth" of 8.5% between March and June 2017 and overall the airports managed by Vinci Airports posted a 14.1% growth in passenger traffic with 37.4 million through the network's 35 airports.
Vinci Airports takes 51% stake in retailer Lojas Francas Portugal
Vinci Airports also has bolstered its position in airport retail with the acquisition of a 51% stake in Lojas Francas Portugal from TAP airline subsidiary TAG AER.
Lojas Francas Portugal currently operates 31 retail outlets across 7,500sq m in seven of the ten Portuguese airports managed by Vinci Airports, including Lisbon airport. Lojas Francas Portugal generated revenue of around €200m ($229.4m) in 2016 - the remaining 49% of its capital is held by travel-retail giant Dufry Group.
Traditional duty-free shops (perfumes and cosmetics, tobacco, alcohol, food products) account for the lion’s share of Lojas Francas Portugal's activity. It also sells fashion products, jewellery and accessories in dedicated stores under the Attitude brand, together with international brand products in exclusive boutiques under licensing contracts.
This operation allows Vinci Airports to strengthen its expertise in airport retail, and through its management of 35 airports across the world, the Group already works regularly with its commercial partners to offer passengers a range of products meeting their expectation, said Vinci in a statement. In 2016, revenue from non-aviation activities, including airport retail, accounted for 25% of Vinci Airports’ consolidated revenue.
Chairman of Vinci Airports chairman and Vinci Concessions CEO Nicolas Notebaert said: “With this acquisition, Vinci Airports reaffirms its ambition to drive creation of the new generation of airport retail. Backed by our expertise as airport operator, we are keen to place our knowledge of the customer pathway at the service of an optimised shopping experience.”
