Sales at airport concessions up Lm0.5m

The volume of sales at all airport concessions increased by Lm500,000 to nearly Lm16 million in the last financial year, a Malta International Airport spokesman said yesterday.

Consequently, the average spend per departing passenger increased to Lm12.02, a high figure which compares favourably with other European airports.

Tax free shopping is the main source of retail operations at Malta International Airport.

The spokesman was speaking during the draw of the lottery promotion organised by the Tax Free Marketing Group at Malta International Airport.

MIA is working on other initiatives to increase retail activity at the air terminal. One of the more important is Cruise and Fly business and MIA expects to see tangible results in the near future.

New commercial activities are also in the pipeline and the main effort in this regard is concentrated on the development of the tax-free shopping area through increasing the floor area dedicated to shopping concessions. This will allow for an improved mix of shops and serve as an added attraction to passengers.

W. Mc Fadyen, from Linwood, Scotland won the first prize, a brand new Volkswagen Beetle, in the six-month promotion whereby passengers purchasing from all tax free shops at Malta International Airport were given a free ticket for every Lm5 spent.

Patrick Attard Baldacchino of Swieqi won the second prize, an Italjet motorbike and family Marchand from Le Havre, won the third prize consisting of a Sony 27" TV set.

The IATA Monitor Report for 2002 rated MIA as second best airport in the world and in Europe within the category of airports handling fewer than 15 million passengers per annum. According to this report, the passenger perception of the retail outlets at MIA is very positive and the shops offer good value for money to the travellers.