Muharraq: By Nayla Barakat: Bahrain Airport Company has signed key concession deal with a leading and well recognised global retail management company for the new terminal.
WH Smith, one of the world’s most recognised travel retail brands, will operate two convenience, tobacco, and news outlets at Bahrain International Airport’s (BIA) new Passenger Terminal Building, Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) announced. The Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications and BAC Chairman Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed and That Al Salasil CEO, Abdullah Al Mansour signed the five-year agreement in the presence of BAC Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah and representatives from both companies.
That Al Salasil, one of the MENA region’s most widely known multinationals, is a franchisee for WH Smith, which has more than 1,500 outlets in 27 countries worldwide. It has over 1,019 stores in travel locations, including airports, train stations, and subways, with more than 154 branches in airports alone. Located at the Arrivals and Departures Areas of the new Passenger Terminal Building, the WH Smith outlets will offer a range of snacks, drinks, books, magazines, newspapers, and other products to enhance the travel experience.
“Having the right tenants and service providers in place is essential to meet the objectives of the Airport Modernisation Programme and the needs of passengers travelling through BIA. We have carefully selected each and every concessionary from among the world’s leading brands to ensure passengers enjoy an exceptional retail experience. Most airports are places that travellers have to go through, this is an airport we hope they will want to go to. WH Smith has long been associated with travel and we are pleased that it is now connected with Bahrain’s gateway to the world. We are confident that passengers will appreciate the wide variety of convenience items, which make journeys more enjoyable. We are looking forward to a long and successful partnership,” HE the Minister said.
“We are delighted to expand our business in the Kingdom at Bahrain International Airport’s new Passenger Terminal Building, bringing new concepts and store designs with our partners, WH Smith. We look forward to strengthening our position with this milestone and providing a world class airport retail experience for passengers,” Mr Al Mansour said.
The retail area at the new Passenger Terminal Building will be three times bigger than at the existing facility, turning the airport into a key commercial hub and a driver of growth for the national economy in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
