Inflight Service defiant despite Swedish loss

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Inflight Service's contract for the operation of three outlets at Stockholm Arlanda airport's terminal two expires at the end of the year and represents a significant loss for the company, managing director Peter Candell told TRW

But he vowed to explore new avenues for growth, and insisted that Inflight Service retained a strong business in Sweden and elsewhere.
Candell said the operator's concessions at Arlanda T2 had been profitable since the company started operating at the terminal in 1998. "We would however not be willing to renew the contract with the new terms," he said.

Candell insisted the most important step for the company was to nurture its current business partners, and extend existing relationships by "finding innovative and value-adding solutions".
 
Candell continued: "One example of this was developed last spring, when we became involved in a joint project with the Estonian ferry line Tallink, refurbishing the shops on-board MS Regina Baltic. A key driver of this project was to bring experience from airports and airlines into ferry retailing. Onboard sales went up by approximately 30%, so it was a clear win-win situation. Besides that, we have to continuously look for new projects in order to explore growth opportunities."

Candell added that he is confident that the duty-free trade will continue on ferries, despite the Baltic nations' impending accession to the EU. As far as the euro is concerned, Candell remained hopeful that Sweden's vote on the introduction of the European currency next year could stimulate business. "If Sweden joins it would make life easier for an international company like us, from the simple perspective that we would reduce currency exposure dramatically."