Duty-free operator eyes third airport

Duty-free operator eyes third airport

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet

Gebr. Heinemann operates the duty-free store in Istanbul Atatürk Airport with TAV. DHA photo

The German partner operator of Istanbul Atatürk Airport’s duty-free stores, Gebr. Heinemann, is seeking to operate the duty-free shops at the planned third airport in Istanbul as well.

“We know the passenger in Istanbul. We have an advantage, so we’re desirous of operating duty-free at the world’s biggest [airport],” says Claus Heinemann, co-chair of Gebr. Heinemann.

Gebr. Heinemann, one of the world’s three largest duty-free operators, is one partner of Unifree, while ATÜ, a subsidiary of Atatürk Airport’s operator, Turkish company TAV, is the other partner.

TAV Airports is among the candidates for the operational rights of the third airport to be built in Istanbul. A tender set to be held May 3 will award the rights.

“I believe TAV will win the tender, but I don’t know what we will do if it can’t. We have been together with TAV in Turkey for 13 years,” Heinemann said.

The German operator has a contract with TAV through 2021, Heinemann said, adding that his company is preparing to bid for duty-free operations at the new airport with TAV as well, as it is getting ready to grant a loan to ATÜ. It is hard to estimate the amount of investment, he added.

Heinemann also said Turks and Germans formed great partnerships as they complement each other’s strong and weak aspects and his company was looking at duty-free merchandising opportunities related to seaways and road projects. 

In addition to the rent cost totaling 3 billion Turkish Liras in 12 years, Gebr. Heinemann has paid 220 million euros worth of tax, he said. “So we don’t bring the money we earn back to Germany, and we leave a lot of income in Turkey.”

The new airport project comprises 40,000 square meters of store area.

The third airport’s passenger capacity is planned to gradually reach 150 million passengers, and its first phase is set to be completed by 2017. According to the latest reports, 17 firms have received the file of specifications for the airport tender.

The new airport’s construction is being rushed due to high occupancy in Atatürk Airport.
LATEST NEWS

  1. Türkiye 'neutralizes' nine PKK members in Iraq, Syria

  2. Kılıçdaroğlu faces first hearing in insult case

  3. Türkiye will continue on path to energy independence, Erdoğan vows

  4. COP29 draft deal proposes rich nations give $250 bln in climate finance

  5. MPs pass reforms on internal security
Recommended

Over 47 million foreign tourists visit Türkiye in 10 months

AI firms seek accords with publishing giants to maintain growth

Competition authority launches probe into Mastercard, Visa

BP announces $7 billion gas project investment in Indonesia

Trudeau to send checks to millions of Canadians

SEC Chair Gensler to exit, clearing way for Trump pick

Volkswagen workers head towards strikes from December
WORLD

COP29 draft deal proposes rich nations give $250 bln in climate finance

A new draft deal at U.N. climate talks Friday proposes rich nations commit $250 billion a year to help poorer nations combat global warming in a bid to break the deadlocked negotiations.
ECONOMY

Over 47 million foreign tourists visit Türkiye in 10 months

Foreign tourist arrivals in Türkiye increased by 7.03 percent year-on-year in January-October to 47.3 million, according to data from the Culture and Tourism Ministry on Nov. 22.

SPORTS

Türkiye heads to Nations League playoffs after Montenegro loss

Türkiye spurned the opportunity to finish atop its group in the UEFA Nations League and qualify for League A directly with a 3-1 loss at Montenegro on Nov. 19 night.