Bratislava opts to control duty-free after management change

Tina Milton

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Bratislava airport will manage duty-free operations itself following a change in the board of directors, who withdrew the agreement with the tender winner Gebr Heinemann

Bratislava airport will operate duty-free shops itself following a change in management. The tender was awarded to Gebr Heinemann on October 17 but the contract was withdrawn following a change of government in Slovakia and the subsequent decision not to privatise the airport earlier this year.

Bratislava has three shops totalling 130sq m (1,398sq ft). An industry source told DFNI: “There has been quite a situation in Bratislava. Heinemann won the tender but since the airport’s board of directors changed the agreement has been reversed. Some of the space is still not operational as there may be changes to the terminal airside, which will determine how the duty-free and duty-paid space will be divided.”

Duty-free operator Helitrade ceased trading on November 30, and while the duty-free store in the transit area is still trading the other stores have ceased operating while the board debates the terminal’s renovations.