Hives of Activity
There is no shortage of exciting new retail-orientated developments taking place at Stockholm Arlanda and Skavsta airports, as David Davies discovers
Stockholm Arlanda Airport (SAA
The largest airport in Sweden, SAA processed close to 18m passengers in 2007. Widely regarded as one of the Nordic region’s – and indeed Europe’s – most dynamic airports, Arlanda has consistently expanded and enhanced its retail offer to complement its everincreasing passenger base.
In 2008, the offer to passengers is centred on a 13-outlet duty-free concession run by The Nuance Group
and encompassing liquor & tobacco, perfumes, cosmetics, confectionery, fashion and electronics. Pretty
comprehensive, you might think, but airport operator Arlanda Schiphol Development Company is continuing to progress an expansion programme incorporating the ‘makeover’ of Sky City, its landside shopping area, and the development of the arrivals hall and the A and B piers in the airport’s main international portal, Terminal 5.
“Our approach [to retail] can be summarised as creating an airport environment which first and foremost
adds value to the passenger experience at SAA,” says Anne-Marie Zuidweg, managing director of the Arlanda Schiphol Development Company. “Balancing smooth operational processes with a pleasant, inviting atmosphere in the commercial areas is the key to that. The mix of concepts and the offer in the stores at SAA are selected in such a way that they offer the optimal mix of classic airport retail categories at competitive prices and an interesting, attractive offer to browse through.”
Current priorities include the development of a new walk-through store in the freshly constructed T5 extension. Due to open by the year’s end, the circa 1800sqm outlet will be operated by The Nuance Group and will offer all of the traditional categories, albeit presented in “a new and interesting way”.
“As of the end of this year, all passengers travelling from piers A and F will pass through this store on the
way to the concourses,” observes Zuidweg. “Because of its scale, as well as the design and layout, the new commercial area will be a dramatic enhancement of the passenger experience and a much anticipated commercial opportunity for SAA.”
Stockholm Skavsta Airport
Situated 100km south of Stockholm, Skavsta is the second largest airport serving Stockholm and, after
Gothenburg, the third largest in Sweden. With a rapidly expanding passenger throughput, Skavsta is poised to begin a significant development programme that will have major implications for duty-free/travel-retail.
At present, Skavsta has just one airside shop of 180sqm, but a proposed site-wide expansion centred on the creation of a new terminal building – set to begin next year if the necessary approvals are granted – would result in a revamped main store and several new standalone outlets.
“There will definitely be more for travellers to choose from,” says Joakim Lindholm, Skavsta’s operations
director. “We will cover the same kind of staple categories as we do now, but we will probably also look
to expand our coverage of clothes and electrical devices, in particular.”
With the proposed expansion set to increase the airport’s annual passenger capacity to 3.5m, Skavsta
stands on the verge of an exciting new era in which retail will play a vital part. “Retail is a significant contributor to our non-aeronautical revenues,” confirms Lindholm. “All airports and airport professionals today understand that to survive in a more competitive environment where fuel prices are going up, and services and regulations are changing, that commercial income is bound to become more and more important to any airport or airline.”
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