Alpha wins ten more years at Manchester

Emily Pacey

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Alpha Airports Group has signed a ten-year extension to its contract with Manchester International airport, worth an estimated £800m ($1.5bn) over the ten year period.

Alpha Airports Group has signed a ten-year extension to its contract with Manchester International airport, worth an estimated £800m ($1.5bn) over the ten year period.

The retailer will invest about £8m ($15m) in its shops in all three terminals, most of which will be spent in the first two years of the contract. Alpha's plans include opening a new store in terminal three by April next year and doubling the retail floor space at T1 to 22,000sq ft (2,043sq m). Work on T1 will be completed by April 2008 as part of Manchester airport's ongoing re-development of all three terminals.
 
Alpha Airports Group chairman and CEO Peter Williams said: "This is one of the biggest contracts in the UK airport sector and is a wonderful example of how a retailer and landlord can work together to create a step-change in the way services are delivered to consumers. Working together Alpha and Manchester Airport will set a new agenda for retailing at all airports."

He added: "We are delighted to continue to work with Manchester airport on plans to maximise retail flow and improve customer service. Travel-retail has undergone significant change over the last ten years and we will be working together to provide a more sophisticated and targeted offering. There is very little time to engage with the travellers passing through the terminals, so we must have an experience in place which meets and exceeds their needs and expectations. Together with Manchester airport, one of the fastest growing airports in the UK, we have the opportunity to create the blueprint for 'next generation' travel-retail." 

Manchester Airport Group CEO Geoff Muirhead said: "This is a significant and important contract for Manchester Airport as it will reinforce its position as the hub airport for the north of England. Over the next four years we will reinvent retail and catering across all three terminals, and our relationship with Alpha is crucial to these plans. Like us, Alpha has a real passion for delivering the best possible retail solutions, which will benefit everyone using the airport."

Alpha's ten-year contract extension begins on April 1 2006.