Noida awards retail and duty free concession to Heinemann and BWC

India’s new Noida International Airport (DXN), which is expected to open at the end of the year, has awarded the concession for retail and duty-free to a consortium of Heinemann Asia Pacific and BWC Forwarders Private Limited.

Airport CEO, Christoph Schnellmann, said: “As we continue to develop Noida International Airport into a world-class facility, this partnership will provide a seamless blend of duty-free and retail shopping, catering to the diverse needs of our travellers.

“This will enable access to an array of premium and experiential options that will ensure our passengers’ time at the airport is both enjoyable and memorable. We believe this collaboration will set a new standard for airport retail, creating an unparalleled shopping experience for travellers at Noida International Airport.”

While Marvin von Plato, CEO of Heinemann Asia Pacific, noted: “We are excited to soon start operations at Noida International Airport together with our Indian consortium partners BWC Forwarders.

“The Indian growth story, particularly when it comes to travel and aviation, is an extremely exciting onwards and upwards journey to be a part of.

“We deeply thank the Noida team for their trust in appointing us as their very first retail partners. Together with BWC, we look forward to crafting an exceptional retail environment at Noida, and to continuously grow our shared business in India for the long term.”

Heinemann promises that passengers passing through DXN will have a seamless and engaging experience with its branded stores, which will include an innovative walkthrough market concept for domestic travellers.

A unique focus is said to have been placed on incorporating elements of local culture and heritage to showcase the artisanal traditions of Uttar Pradesh at the airport, with an array of elegant regional artefacts, textiles, woodwork, jewellery, and metalwork, among other locally sourced masterpieces.

Indeed, Heinemann states that “the offerings will instil a strong sense of place and captivate passengers with the timeless allure of Uttar Pradesh’s handicrafts and souvenirs, presenting a vibrant and exquisite collection that celebrates the artistry and cultural diversity of the region.”

The airport on the outskirts of New Delhi has been given the IATA code ‘DXN’ and recently announced that Indigo – one of the fastest growing airlines in the world – would be its launch carrier.

Viewed as an alternative to Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport, Noida is being built, and will be operated by, Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL), a special purpose vehicle set up for the job and 100% owned by Zurich Airport International.

It has been widely reported that Noida International Airport will combine Indian warmth and hospitality with Swiss technology and efficiency to develop a modern, user-friendly design, inspired by India.

The first phase of the airport, featuring one runway and one terminal, will have the capacity to handle traffic of 12 million passengers annually. Upon completion of all four development phases, the airport will be able to cater to 70 million passengers per year.