Brisbane deal worth $480m to Nuance

Gavin Lipsith

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The retailer anticipates a large increase in sales following the seven-year extension that will result in Nuance increasing its space at Brisbane airport by 43%

The Nuance Group has predicted that its recent seven-year extension at Brisbane airport will be worth A632m ($480m) in sales. The extension, until 2014, will allow Nuance – trading as Downtown Duty Free – to increase its space at the airport by 43%.

Speaking to local press Nuance general manager Queensland Neil Johnson said that space would be extended from 1,965sq m (21,143sq ft) to 2,800sq m (30,128sq ft) over eight stores. The plan is part of Brisbane Airport Corp's project to increase space at its international terminal by 60%.

Nuance Australia and New Zealand CEO Christian Strang reiterated the importance of the extension to the group, saying that international visitor numbers at Brisbane have grown faster than at any other Australian airport for the past 15 years, and that he expected the growth to continue for the foreseeable future.

As revealed in DFNI May 1, Nuance is planning a cutting edge concept store at Brisbane that will include "decompression zones" where passengers can relax after passing immigration and passport control, as well as a food and beverage offering.