NEW ZEALAND. Lagardère Travel Retail-owned Aelia Duty Free has begun operations at Christchurch Airport in time for the peak holiday season.
Aelia Duty Free is operating 905sq m in Departures and 544sq m in arrivals.
Lagardère Travel Retail said the offer was driven by Aelia Duty Free’s “four key pillars” – ‘The Art of the Gift’, ‘Facilitation’, ‘Care and Here’ and ‘Nowhere Else’.
The retailer pledged to showcase a strong Sense of Place through product offers, promotions and specialist staff knowledge.
Lagardère Travel Retail said that it is reinforcing its strategic plan of operations across three sectors – duty free and fashion, travel essentials and food service. The Aelia Duty Free stores bolster Lagardère Travel Retail’s previous seven-store operation at the airport.
In 2019, the company will roll out a new duty free departures store, four specialty shops and a bar, more than doubling its airside space to around 1,928sq m.
Lagardère Travel Retail Pacific CEO Przemek Lesniak said the opening has set a new benchmark in the region. “We are delighted to be extending our duty free presence to this part of the Pacific region,” he commented. “Christchurch Airport has been a valued partner of ours for seven years, and we are very pleased to expand on our enduring partnership.
“We will continue to work together to deliver outstanding customer service and develop our new stores so every international passenger through Christchurch Airport receives a world-class experience with a strong local Sense of Place.
“The level of detail in the preparation, organisation and coordination of this project has allowed an incredibly smooth transition for us to open and we are very excited to unveil Aelia Duty Free at Christchurch Airport. We believe it can exceed the expectations of both partners and passengers.”
Christchurch Airport Chief Aeronautical and Commercial Officer Justin Watson said, “We have strong aspirations both from an experiential and digital perspective and Lagardère stood out as the right partner to go on a journey with. As the international gateway to the South Island, we are uniquely placed to offer an experience that showcases the best of our place.”
Underlining that digital focus, Aelia Duty Free has created a dedicated website for its Christchurch offer at https://christchurch.aeliadutyfree.co.nz/
Lagardère Travel Retail operates Relay, Tech2go, Sunglass Hut, Hub Convenience and the Icons café in Christchurch Airport, as well as stores in Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin, Queenstown, Rotorua, Palmerston North and Nelson airports.
