Aldeasa to gain in Lima upgrades

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The operator is to benefit from an $80m investment programme that will include a new terminal and retail plaza to open in early 2005

Lima Airport Partners (LAP) is to improve retail facilities at Jorge Chavez International airport after Peru's government regulator OSITRAN approved an $80m investment plan. The authority, a joint venture between Alterra Partners and Fraport, is to upgrade airport infrastructure and construct a new terminal building due to open early next year. The terminal's centrepiece will be a new commercial centre called Peru Plaza, offering greatly improved retail facilities, and operator Aldeasa is hoping to invest around $2m in store improvements and expansions.

Aldeasa has operated at the airport for 10 years and secured a six-year extension to 2011 in July. Director of international business Julio Lopez told TRW the company had seen a resurgence in travel-retail sales at the airport in the past year and hopes improved facilities will allow it to build on those gains.

"We have worked closely with [LAP] to look at ways of maximising revenues," said Lopez. "Once the airport renovation is completed, Lima will be a very important hub for international traffic in South America, and although there have been some inconveniences during building work we have been able to increase sales. We have worked with LAP to manage traffic flows in the renovated terminals and we will be increasing retail space from 880sq m (9,470sq ft) to 1,400 sq m (15,065sq ft). Our sales in Peru have increased from $4.4m in the first half of last year to $5.2m in the same period this year, and we are convinced they will increase further."

Aldeasa's contract includes an option to extend for a further six years if the retailer meets performance criteria set by the authority.