The lack of offers to manage the duty free shops at the Barajas and El Prat airports in the tender launched by Aena – the largest in the world in this segment by volume of business – has surprised the sector. In particular, due to the non-appearance of Dufry, the Swiss multinational that currently operates 100% of the tax-free establishments in the Aena network and that had expressed its intention to remain in all possible airports.
This was stated by the company's CEO, the Catalan Xavier Rossinyol, in an interview with this newspaper a few days ago. “We have always prevailed over the rest of the competitors because we know the characteristics and needs of the country better than anyone else,” he said. Finally, it has turned its back on the jewels in the crown of Aena, Madrid and Barcelona, just like the dozen international groups that had shown initial interest in the contest, such as China Duty Free Group, the American UETA, or Hotel Shilla ( Korea).
The other four lots offered by the listed company in the tender, with the airports of Andalusia-Mediterranean, the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands and the North, have received proposals, among them from Dufry, according to sources in the sector - the lots have received between one and two offers.
In fact, the conditions of the contest were designed to end the de facto monopoly that Dufry has exercised up to now in Spanish airports and increase competition, since they only allowed 80% of the six lots offered to compete. A requirement that the multinational had not liked, which would have wanted to renew in 100% of the airports, according to what he stated in La Vanguardia.
Be that as it may, the desertion of the groups from the Barajas and Catalunya airports now forces them to restart the contest. The estimated turnover for all lots is 18,000 million euros in twelve years. Market sources consulted comment that Aena will probably have to redo the specifications and conditions of the new tender process as a whole.
In any case, the decision has not yet been made and must be discussed by the Aena board of directors. Another of the conditions that the airport manager chaired by Maurici Lucena had included in the contest was a kind of anti-pandemic clause to shield itself from situations and disputes such as the one with Dufry for the amount of rentals for premises during the covid crisis. . The specifications contemplate that if there is a drop in passenger traffic of more than 50%, the rent can be reduced by 30%. Aena, which yesterday left 3.45% on the Ibex, now has a year to find a new tenant for the two airports. Dufry's contract expires in October and you can apply a clause to keep him in stores for another six months.
