ACS and Swissport partner for Spanish airport handling bids

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RavenFox.com clarifies misleading reports over the companies' ambitions at Spanish airports

Spanish construction group ACS subsidiary Clece is to partner Swiss airport handling group Swissport in bidding for airport handling contracts at AENA airports, according to Spanish newspaper Expansion. Contrary to the paper's English translation, subsequently reported on other media websites, the two groups will not participate in retail tenders due to be called before the end of next year at several Spanish airports.

Swissport is the world's largest airport handling company and not, as described in the Expansion translation, the world's largest operator of duty-free stores.

Dufry Group and Spanish travel retailer and caterer Areas, which also holds a 23.75% stake in Dufry, have already noted the opportunities presented by AENA's planned tenders for retail at most of its Spanish airports, where Aldeasa's contract is due to expire by the end of 2006. The exception is Madrid Barajas airport, where the contract runs until the end of 2012.