Frankfurt and Schiphol airports form global retail alliance

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Frankfurt airport authority (FAG) and Schiphol Group are about to sign a six-year consulting contract for further enhancing the development of retailing activities at Frankfurt airport.  Furthermore, FAG and Amsterdam's Schiphol Group will establish a 50-50
joint-venture company as part of the "Pantares" alliance which will manage retailing activities at other airports around the world. This joint venture will begin operating on January 1 2001 and is the first such alliance between two major international airports.

Together, both companies will invest in the research and development of systems for automating and speeding up passenger through-traffic in their respective terminals. The goal is to increase passenger through-traffic and passenger convenience. It is understood the retail venture will concentrate on new activities excluding Frankfurt's international operations at the new Athens airport, Manila terminal three plus Schiphol Group's operations at Brisbane and New York JFK airport terminal four.

FAG and Schiphol group are developing cooperation in five key business areas in addition to retailing: aviation ground handling, real estate development, facility management, IT as well as international activities. In the near future both companies will develop joint activities in other fields such as purchasing, terminal development and e-business. "In the more than 100 privatisation projects coming up internationally, both CEOs see excellent opportunities for mutual success," FAG said in a press statement. The two companies will cooperate in international joint ventures for the Jakarta and Second Bangkok airport privatisations.