Birmingham airport continues retail expansion

Joe Bates

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Birmingham international airport has announced details of the second phase of its commercial expansion plan

Three new units are scheduled to open in the landside area of Birmingham International airport terminal one by May next year— a WH Smith stationery store, an Alpha-run World News outlet and a combined tea and health food shop run by UK high street names Julian Graves and Whittard of Chelsea.
The fashion and accessories offer in the departures lounge of T1 is to be boosted with a new 140sq m (1,500sq ft) Monsoon outlet. Sunglasses Hut is relocating to a larger space and WH Smith is to open a specialist bookstore.
Head of market development commercial Ray Savage said retail sales of core product categories liquor, tobacco and fragrances had been affected by the recent security crisis. “We are seeing a slow recovery in business,” he added. “Food and beverage sales have been strong, however. We have invested a lot of money in our landside catering mix, which now includes a Whetherspoons Bar and a Frankie and Benny’s outlet, and our new Yates pub in T1 departures is the biggest airport bar in the UK.”
The highlight of the first phase of the airport’s commercial expansion was the opening of a new 1,200sq m (12,900sq ft) tax-free store in T1 by Alpha Retail in January this year (DFNI July 15).
Commercial revenue accounts for 43% of Birmingham airport's total turnover. The airport is forecasting passenger traffic of 9.4m, a 1% increase on 2005.