Airport authority calls InterBaires contracts into question

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**DFNI eXTRA NEWS FLASH** Uncertainty continues to hound the future of InterBaires' duty-free contracts at Argentina's leading airports, following Deutsche Bank's takeover of 80% of the share in the company

Airport authority Aeropuertos Argentina 2000 commercial director Marcelo Orfila claimed the government had not approved the agreement to extend InterBaires' duty-free contracts to 2027, and that these would now only run to 2009.

He told TRW: "Our understanding is that we are working on the original contract. The revised contract [to 2027] was never countersigned by the government and has since lapsed. We advised InterBaires of this at the end of last month. We will talk to the new owners this week to see which direction they plan to take the company."

He also claimed that the extension of space awarded to InterBaires in the new agreement was also invalid.

Meanwhile, well-known industry executive Enrique Urioste has taken the role of chief executive officer at InterBaires, replacing Gustavo Sanchez. Urioste was ceo of IOSC, the buying company for InterBaires.

• Full details and comment on the future for InterBaires will appear in the December 1 issue of Duty-Free News International.