SAUDI ARABIA. Riyadh Airports Company (RAC) reported today that duty free sales at Riyadh King Khalid International Airport reached a new all-time high in December 2021.
Precise sales were not disclosed but they exceeded December 2019 figures by nearly +10%, making the month the highest on record for sales in the airport’s history. In addition, the highest single-day sales number since August 2019 was recorded on 23 December.
RAC said that this demonstrated “the growing momentum in the Saudi Arabian aviation sector as consumer confidence and passenger numbers recover, driving strong sales”. The business has also started the year strongly, with duty free sales in January growing by +22% compared to the same month in 2019. Lagardère Travel Retail manages the duty free business at the airport.
RAC General Manager Commercial Development Abdulaziz Al Asaker said: “Following a challenging two years for the aviation industry, we are delighted to see continued growth across our duty free and other retail partners. These latest sales records highlight Riyadh Airports’ role as a strong growth partner with a sound strategic plan in place for expansion. As passenger numbers continue to recover and we move from strength to strength, grow our business and create new commercial opportunities, we expect to see new records throughout 2022 and beyond.”
ARI is supporting Riyadh Airports Company in the launch of a new online shopping service, Click & Collect; ARI manages the Ahlan Avenue business in T5 domestic (pictured)
RAC said it has expanded its commercial offer with a focus on top international brands. Earlier this month, the airport company also introduced a new online shopping service, Click & Collect, through Ahlan Avenue, managed by duty paid retail partner Aer Rianta International, which operates at domestic Terminal 5. The service allows passengers to pre-purchase items for collection at the airport.
“Despite the disruption to our sector from COVID-19, we have not delayed our plans to develop the commercial services on offer for passengers. Indeed, we have accelerated the implementation of our digital transformation strategy by adopting new technologies to improve the passenger experience and help them feel safer while using our facilities,” Al-Asaker added.
RAC announced last year that it is working towards the opening of new international terminals 3 and 4; these are currently undergoing renovation as part of a wider expansion plan at the airport.
Click here for an interview with Riyadh Airports Company General Manager Commercial Development Abdulaziz Al Asaker about the challenges of the pandemic period and the airport’s commercial expansion.
*The Moodie Davitt Report is delighted to announce ‘The Saudi Travel Ecosystem Report’ for 2022. This pioneering exploration of one of the world’s most exciting aviation, tourism, retail and travel-related revenues markets will appear in June, in Arabic and English language. It will examine Saudi Arabia’s tourism revolution, the fast-evolving airport commercial landscape and carry interviews with key figures across the country’s tourism, aviation, retail and mixed-leisure sectors.
More details to follow soon. For further information, contact Martin Moodie at Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com
