Dufry, soon to be Avolta, has formed a strategic partnership with Hubei Airport Group as master concessionaire at Wuhan Tianhe Airport’s Terminal 2.
Within the partnership, Dufry will leverage capabilities newly enhanced by the Dufry-Autogrill business combination. The company will showcase innovative travel retail, F&B, convenience and hybrid concepts, optimising revenue generation across a footprint of 77 stores and 13,000m2.
Welcoming more than 27 million passengers in 2019, Wuhan Tianhe is the 14th busiest airport by passenger traffic in China. Within the collaborative and strategic joint venture partnership, Dufry will work together with Hubei Airport Group to develop integrated commercial areas. The offering will include carefully selected domestic and international brands and concepts to best serve Chinese and international travellers while delivering a strong sense of place. Following the development phase, the first outlets are expected to open between the end of December 2023 and early January 2024.
This significant contract attests to our expanded ability to offer airport partners a comprehensive set of travel retail, F&B, convenience and hybrid concepts
Xavier Rossinyol, CEO of Dufry, said, “Wuhan Tianhe’s Terminal 2 will be the first entity in the Chinese market to be jointly operated by Dufry, soon to be called Avolta, and Hubei Airport Group, one of the foremost airport groups in China.
“This is a brave and exciting next step for our company. In line with our Destination 2027 strategy, we look forward to introducing innovative concepts which will elevate the traveller’s airport experience to an entirely new level. We’re confident that this aligns with Hubei Airport Group’s own vision to set the highest international standards for airport commercial operations. As Avolta, we are more than Dufry, and we are more than Autogrill, and this significant contract attests to our expanded ability to offer airport partners a comprehensive set of travel retail, F&B, convenience and hybrid concepts, fully managing the commercial spaces in our role as master concessionaire.”
We are deepening our resource sharing, strengthening efficient collaboration, and working together
Li Zhonglu, chairman of Hubei Airport Group (HBA), said, “Hubei Airport Group has joined hands with Dufry to establish a comprehensive and deep-seated strategic partnership, leveraging the airport's ‘big channel, big hub, big network, and big platform’ functions, and also leveraging Dufry's global supply chain, operational expertise, and its leading position in the industry.
“In doing so we are deepening our resource sharing, strengthening efficient collaboration, and working together to build the platform, elevate the travel experience, and expand the market opportunities. Working together, we can successfully promote the integrated development of Wuhan as a travel hub, and better serve travellers, as well as the province's further development as it opens up to the outside world.”
Image: Dufry
