TOP 10 OPERATORS 10: AER RIANTA INTERNATIONAL


by concessionaires hit €331m. This was buoyed by a combined


6% lift in passenger volumes across both airports to reach 33.9m and in the case of Dublin, continued shop upgrades at Terminal 2. During the year, a multi-phase


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understanding and delivering on our partners’ needs,” explains Kenny. “He’s done that to great effect.


redevelopment covering more than 2,000sq m of retail space marked the first major investment in the retail offer since it opened in 2010. The first phase included a


405sq m flagship liquor store boasting over 160 new products and brands. Campari, Chabot, Dead Rabbit


Distillery, Penfolds and Beringer plus a plentiful array of other new brands added to ARI’s Irish whiskey and gin arsenal, with 80-plus international variants in the case of the latter. Separately, ARI has been ringing


the changes at management level. In July last year, daa announced the appointment of former Bus Éireann chief Ray Hernan to lead ARI, replacing Jack MacGowan. The appointment brings


experience to ARI from across the retail and aviation divide, with Hernan having also occupied a series of senior executive roles with the likes of Selfridges, Brown Thomas and Ryanair, where he spent 10 years as Director of Finance. “Our business model is built on


partnerships and joint ventures and a critical aspect of Ray’s role has been


Customer focus is the central element of his vision for success and he’s really driven that agenda forward this year.” The firm backed this up in


August this year, when it unveiled a management reshuffle [see panel on p76].


Headwinds in Auckland Looking at the wider ARI business, sweeping gains were made in India where the travel retailer holds a 33.1% stake in the joint venture at Delhi International Airport. This yielded turnover growth of almost +15% year-on-year, with a new arrivals shop opening and upgrades taking place at departures. Operations in Canada and at


Auckland Airport grew by 7% and 11%, respectively. At Auckland, it is no secret that


the split concession model with Lagardère Travel Retail has proved divisive – the company itself has admitted to TRBusiness in the past that results have been ‘disappointing’. Asked for his take on the set-


up, Kenny says: “Up until the end of last year we were experiencing very strong growth year-on-year in Auckland since we started the concession. We are hitting


Official Partner


Heavier concession fees due to contract renewals in Oman and Beirut (pictured) hit profit last year.


headwinds now and it is a more challenging environment this year. “There is growing competition on


campus from operators downtown and those from O&D airports. [The business] is still growing but is slower


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“Our business model is built on partnerships and joint ventures and a critical aspect of Ray’s role has been understanding and delivering on our partners’ needs. He’s done that to great effect.”


Anthony Kenny, Established 1998


Chief Commercial Officer and Deputy CEO, ARI


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For more information contact: Janice@trbusiness.com The Auckland trading environment is proving more challenging this year. OCTOBER 2019 TOP 10 OPERATORS 73


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