Macquarie targets Rome retail after authority acqusition

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Macquarie Airports Group has stated its intention to grow retail at Rome Fiumicino airport, after a consortium headed by the group completed the purchase of almost 45% of the shares of authority Aeroporti di Roma (AdR)

Macquarie managing director Kerrie Mather said the company is working with duty-free incumbent The Nuance Group on merchandising and layout to increase retail revenue, which she said was only half that achieved by comparable European airports.

After the acquisition last week, AdR announced the resignation of several directors and the appointment of a 13-strong board. New appointments include Paolo Savona as vice-chairman and Pier Giorgio Romiti as ceo.

AdR reported a fall in group revenues for 2002 with income of Eu510.2m ($537m), despite an increase in passenger traffic and greater income from AdR's retail activities. The group said it had increased investment in infrastructure by around 27% on the previous year.