Malta appoints Pragma and Design Solution for retail expansion

UK firms Pragma Consulting and The Design Solution will help develop the retail offer at Malta International airport, the companies have revealed. The airport anticipates rapid growth to 3.5m annual passengers by 2011, but does not have space for a dramatic expansion.

 

The companies have planned a walk-through duty-free store, to be operated by The Nuance Group, just after the central security area. The store channels passengers around a central lift core to the departures lounge. The Design Solution has planned to anchor the departures lounge around a food and beverage offer, with retail outlets spaced between catering outlets. Passengers will be able to see all the commercial offer while keeping sight of the lounge and departure gates.

 

With a very seasonal flow, the two companies had to balance the appropriate amount of space at peak times while recognising the need to ensure a year-round commercial offer.

Pragma project director Mark Entwistle said: “The real challenge here was to develop a strong commercial offer for increasing, and seasonal, passenger flows without substantial increases to the building. This was achieved with a unique solution of a walk-through duty free store through previously unused deep space, before entering a central commercial area. Currently, shops and restaurants are fragmented and difficult to access. We also undertook passenger interviews to ensure that the future offer closely matched the needs of the target customer.”