New Operators at Christchurch Airport for Foreign Exchange, Duty Free, and Food and Beverage
Tuesday, 6 July 2010

The start of July has seen significant changes at Christchurch International Airport (CIAL), with the ending of a separate payment for the departure fee, the establishment of JR/Duty Free as the duty free operator, the installation of Travelex as the foreign exchange retailer, and the awarding of a major food and beverage tender to HMS Host.

“We are focused on improving our service and the range of our offerings to passengers,” said CIAL Chief Executive Jim Boult. “The transition to new operators for foreign exchange and duty free has happened smoothly and their new stores are operating well. And we know that passengers welcome the end of the departure charge. ”

The changeover to a Passenger Service Charge means departing international passengers are no longer required to pay a departure charge after checking in. “This new system improves the passenger flow, and brings the departure process in line with other international airports, including Auckland,” explained Boult.

Travelex is the new operator for foreign exchange and banking services at the airport. There will be four Travelex sites at the airport, which will be progressively relocated as different stages of the new terminal construction project are completed.

The new duty free operator at Christchurch Airport is JR/Duty Free, which also has stores in Wellington and Auckland airports. “We are delighted with the quality and exciting presentation of the first stage of their new Departure Shop, which has a unique Canterbury and South Island theme,” said Boult.

The new Departure shops have been redeveloped over the past few months, and are opening in two stages, with the first half of the 900 sq metre Departures store opening last week and the second half of the Departure Store and the new Arrivals Store opening on 1st October.

HMS Host has been awarded the first package of sites for the provision of Food & Beverage at Christchurch Airport, following a tender process involving several specialist global airport providers of food and beverage.

The contract awarded is for a total of 11 sites in the International Terminal and the new Integrated Terminal which is due to open early in 2011. The food stores will include Burger King, Sakura Sushi, Noodle, Healthy Habits, Underground Coffee and The Coffee Club.

The first sites will open in the International Departures area before Christmas 2010, and are part of the major refurbishment of the entire international airside departures retail area. The colours and materials to be used will complement those of the South Island landscapes, and continue the airport’s theme of “bringing the outdoors in”, said General Manager Property, Blair Forgie.

“Most of the new food and beverage outlets will be built and opened when stage 1 of the new terminal is opened early next year, and we are confident that visitors will appreciate the increased variety and improved standard of food offered,” said Forgie.

HMS Host is part of the Autogrill Group, which is the world’s largest provider of food, beverage and retail services for travellers, specialising in offering dining and shopping at airports and on motorways. They provide a variety of food outlets in 114 airports worldwide.

Jim Boult said he welcomed a “a world class Food & Beverage experience for passengers” travelling through Christchurch Airport. “It makes a difference to people if the food and beverages are of high quality, so we chose a global provider which has extensive and impressive experience.”

In the new terminal, the landside precinct before security and Customs will have a large food and beverage area, public seating for 500, and new specialty retail stores offering books, gifts and pharmacy. The current domestic food and beverage sites will close with the opening of the first stage of the new terminal.

“Over the next year, more and more aspects of the new terminal complex will be opened and we are confident that passengers will be pleased at the increase in standards,” said Jim Boult.

ENDS

© Scoop Media