NEW ZEALAND. Auckland International Airport has reported retail income of NZ$225.8 million (US$143.1 million) in its latest financial year, a leap of +18.5% year-on-year.
The performance for the 12 months to the end of June included a sharp +15.4% jump in retail income per international passenger to NZ$20.50 (US$13.08).
The airport said the strong retail performance was mainly due to the upgraded International Terminal departures lounge. The changes resulted in the introduction of 32 new retail concepts and an award-winning F&B offer. As reported, the airport secured the prestigious Airport Food & Beverage Offer of the Year, the FAB Innovation Award for Glamp Grounds Bar and a number of regional awards at the recent FAB Awards in Dallas, organised by The Moodie Davitt Report.
The airport added that the response to the new departures area had been strong with average ASQ scores ranking above four out of five for both of the airport’s terminals – a 12-year high. Auckland Airport Chief Executive Adrian Littlewood described the new area as one of many “transformational” experiences at the Kiwi airport. 
The wider airport reported revenue of NZ$743.4 million (+8.7%), EBITDAFI of NZ$554.8 million and underlying profit after tax of NZ$274.7 million. Total profit after tax was, however, down -19.5% at NZ$523.5 million.
Passenger traffic for the 12-month period at what is New Zealand’s busiest airport was up +2.8% at 21.1 million. International traffic was 10.5 million (+3%), domestic contributed 9.6 million passengers (+3.6%) and transit traffic was 1 million (-4.9%). 
Auckland Airport Chair Patrick Strange said: “It has been another year of growth and we are pleased with the progress we have made on our 30-year vision to build an airport of the future.
“We achieved several milestones in the 2019 financial year as part of our infrastructure development programme, including work beginning on two of our eight key anchor infrastructure projects – our airfield expansion and a major upgrade of the inner core of our roading network.
“We also delivered strong results for our customers, with the completion of significant transport projects and the multi-stage redevelopment of the departure area at the International Terminal.” 
Looking ahead to the financial year 2020, which runs from 1 July 2019 until 30 June 2020, Littlewood added: “As we look to the 2020 financial year, we expect underlying profit after tax (excluding any fair value changes and other one-off items) to again be between NZ$265 million and NZ$275 million. As always, this guidance is subject to any material adverse events, significant one-off expenses, non-cash fair value changes to property and deterioration as a result of global market conditions, or other unforeseeable circumstances.”
Ongoing work at the airport during the current financial year will see improvements at the Domestic Terminal. The work will provide a new retail offer, a reconfiguration of the food court and additional space for security screening.
“Auckland Airport is committed to growing New Zealand’s success in travel, trade and tourism and we would like to take this opportunity to thank our community and customers for their continued support and patience, as we work hard to build an airport of the future, “Littlewood said.
NOTE: The Moodie Davitt Report also publishes FAB, the world’s only media focused on airport (and other travel-related) food & beverage. The FAB Newsletter is published every two weeks and The FAB eZine every month.
Please send all news of food & beverage outlet openings, together with images, menus, video etc to Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com to ensure unrivalled global exposure.
The company also organises the annual Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Conference & Awards. FAB 2019 was held in June in Dallas, hosted by Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
