Duty-paid result looms in Bucharest

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Bucharest Otopeni International airport authority AIBO is close to announcing the winners of the tender for the former duty-free space at the location

The space has been empty since operator EDF Asro was evicted in March, and the Romanian government's recent decision to ban airport duty-free forced the landlord to seek duty-paid retail bids, as first reported in Duty-Free News International October 15 issue.
 
AIBO economic and administration manager Valentin Iordache told TRW the authority had accepted bids from six companies out of nine that had applied. "We have ten outlets available and will award a maximum of two to each succesful bidder," he explained. "If we still have unoccupied space after analysing the current bids, then we will launch another tender as soon as possible."

Iordache said a mixture of Romanian and international companies had submitted bids, and confirmed the participation of EDF Services - under the name EDF Properties - and Heinrig Impex, majority-owned by Gebr Heinemann. The tender concerns most product categories including fragrances and cosmetics, jewellery and watches, electronics, confectionery, toys, writing instruments, fashion, travel goods, gifts and sportswear but excludes liquor and tobacco, which Iordache said were already on offer in Otopeni's bars and restaurants.

"I hope we'll be able to announce a winner very soon," said Iordache. "The important thing is that the space will be filled, as it has been empty for too long."

• For more details and reaction, see the December 1 issue of Duty-Free News International.