NEWS ANALYSIS: UNIFREE DUTY FREE
Unifree Duty Free turns up the dial at Istanbul Bosphorus Zone
Şenher, CEO, Unifree Duty Free stated: “We incorporate Turkish brands which are located only in Istanbul Airport or have products specific to this airport. We believe we will create new world brands from here. We will be the shop window to the world of Turkish brands which wish to become global brands.” In an update, Unifree Duty Free
confirms the Bosphorus Zone now boasts more than 70 brands and in excess of 95 stores; up from 65 brands and 90 stores as recently as August. Indeed, the zone is a roll call of
Turkey’s Unifree Duty Free has been scaling up the retail offer of its Bosphorus Zone at the new Istanbul Airport, which commenced full operations in April. Luke Barras-Hill reports.
Above: Prada is one of the newest additions to the Bosphorus Zone.
I
t was perhaps something of an anti-climax when TRBusiness first revealed more specific details on
the largest airport retail footprint in the world at Istanbul Airport in September last year. A soft-opening of
the latter part of 2018 followed by five duty free stores spread over 8,000sq m in January 2019. These were situated in the
the
€10.3bn/$11.7bn facility took place the following month, but a series of subsequent postponements meant its full commercial flights schedule did not begin until April this year. This was mainly to allow flag
carrier Turkish Airlines extra time to transfer its operations from Atatürk Airport. Invariably, this meant delays to
the opening of the new airport’s 53,000sq m commercial space operated by Unifree Duty Free, in which Gebr. Heinemann holds a 60.8% stake. Time did not stand still though, with a cluster of shops opening in
The Bosphorus Zone now boasts more than 70 brands and in excess of 95 stores.
TRBusiness 36 TRBUSINESS
mammoth commercial zone, which boasts a circa 36,000sq m central processor area of which 18,000sq m is dedicated to core duty free and Turkish bazaars. A further 11,000sq m of duty free
is located in arrivals, with pier and transfer shops taking up 7,000sq m.
Global shop window The majority of the core duty free stores were trading in April, but since then TRBusiness has been led to believe from conversations with several industry sources that the resplendent Bosphorus Zone – the linchpin of the retail quarter – is still phasing in. It is comprised of different sections
each featuring a medley of global and local brands. The sections are Fashion Garden;
Family Palace; Luxury Hill: Jewellery and Watches; Luxury Hill: Fashion and Accessories; Style Beach; and Icon Gulf. Commenting on the layout, Ali
some of the finest names in fashion and luxury with Louis Vuitton, Bulgari, Emporio Armani, Ferragamo, Michael Kors, Montblanc, Boss, Casio, Ecco, Ermenegildo Zegna, Etro, Herschel Supply, Longchamp, Samsonite, Skechers, Sunglass Hut, Hermès and Furla. These join prominent Turkish brands such as Orka, SPX and Mavi. Most recently, a 164sq m Prada
store carrying leathergoods, footwear and accessories for both men and women opened in the Luxury Hill area. The interior’s canvas-lined walls
in shades of green, accompanied by a chequered floor of black and white marble, have been inspired by the historic Prada store in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan. “Our partnership with Prada is
a step towards our aim to create an impressive luxury travel retail experience,” commented Sinan Iscimenler, Director of Business Development, Unifree Duty Free. “Timeless with its elegant design and in fashion with its digital façade, Prada definitely reflects the soul of the Bosphorus Zone.” Istanbul’s new airport is being
constructed in four phases. It has the capacity to handle 90 million passengers in phase one and will handle 200m and house six runways when it eventually completes. «
OCTOBER 2019
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