Zürich’s €180m Schengen plan offers new opportunities

Gavin Lipsith

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The airport will take advantage of the changes to upgrade its commercial offer at the Airside Center and terminal B, says Unique Zürich's Peter Eriksson

Zürich International airport authority Unique Zürich is to invest €180m ($234m) to separate Schengen and non-Schengen passengers in preparation for Switzerland joining the Schengen agreement. The programme, scheduled to be completed by the end of 2009, will include reopening Zürich’s terminal B, adding more gates and opening a centralised security checkpoint in front of the Airside Center, the airport’s central retail and catering facility.

Unique head of real estate and marketing Peter Eriksson told RavenFox.com that the new centralised security area would mean that duty-free incumbent The Nuance Group will be able to create a walk-through store at the entrance to the Airside Center. Space now occupied by passport control—which will move to the central security area—will be reserved for commercial use, which Eriksson said would allow the airport to introduce “more attractive merchandise and brands”.

Eriksson added: “Dwell-time quality will also be improved by taking away all hurdles for our guests as soon as they have passed security check, thus creating great potential for commercial activities. We will stick to the same consumer-focused structure of today in the Airside Center, adding some attractive offers to it. Minor adjustments will be made related to the new passenger flows.”

Terminal B, which has been closed since the Airside Center opened in October 2004, will be a totally flexible Schengen/non-Schengen concourse, and Eriksson said the airport would add gate shops with a basic offer of core duty-free categories, souvenirs and gifts as well as books, magazines and newspapers. There will also be a catering offer and Winston smoking lounges from Japan Tobacco International.

But the most crucial change would be a strong focus would be on service, said Eriksson. The airport is planning a service zone for travellers who have enough time and are seeking a place to relax.  Eriksson declined to add details but said “we will present a new approach to airports in this segment”.