Duty-free, ad sales set to take off in Delhi airport

Duty-free, ad sales set to take off in Delhi airport: "NEW DELHI, MAR 25: The GMR-led consortium that bagged the Delhi airport modernisation project hopes to generate Rs 470 crore from non-aeronautical sources of business, including duty-free shops, advertisements, foods & beverages, car rentals, ground-handling and cargo in the first full year of operations, 2007-08. This is a 56% jump from what Airports Authority of India (AAI) collected from such sources in 2005-06.
Delhi International Airport Ltd, the company that is executing the project, hopes to extract maximum value duty-free shopping, car park and advertising. These three businesses are expected to grow 250%, 90% and 215%, respectively in 2007-08.


DIAL had awarded the duty free shopping contract to a consortium of US-based Alpha Airports Group Plc and Pantaloon Retail (India) Ltd, a Future Group venture. The venture is projected to generate sales of Rs 500 crore for DIAL in the next three years.
In 2005-06, AAI recorded sales of a meager Rs 26 crore from duty-free shops. At present, ITDC runs these outlets at the international airports in the four metros. Analysts said Asia accounts for over a third or 35% of the global duty free sales. "