Winnipeg Airports Authority poised to issue RFPs

Tina Milton

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The authority plans to release the RFPs for new retail space at Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International airport next month

Winnipeg Airports Authority (WAA) will release the RFPs for 22,000sq ft (2,0446sq m) of retail space at the new terminal at Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International airport next month. The new space will allow WAA to double its current retail portfolio to 30 outlets and the RFPs will include the contract for duty-free, which is currently operated by Aer Rianta International.

The new terminal, scheduled to open in 2010, will dramatically change the airside and landside mix of retail space at Winnipeg. Airport spokeswoman Christine Alongi told Ravenfox.com: “Because air travel has changed so much since the original terminal opened in 1962 and there were not the security requirements there are now, we will reorganise the allocation of retail space to fulfil these new demands. About 70% of the new space will be located post-security and 30% pre-security, which is the opposite of the set up in the current terminal.”

Alongi emphasised that although the airport handles 3.4m travellers a year, landside retail space is still necessary to offer convenience concepts to the 1m “meeters and greeters” that visit the airport.

WAA will host a meeting at 10am on November 2 at the Fort Garry Hotel in Winnipeg to explain the opportunities to travel retailers and food and beverage operators.