In the coming few years, top specialty stores, cafés and restaurants will be opened at the airport, including Bvlgari, Jimmy Choo, Chloé, champagne bar Helcin and the essence of Finland reflecting Cafe Koivikko.Last year Finavia launched a public procurement process looking for new retail operators for Helsinki Airport, the largest international airport in Finland.

“We have conducted the procurement process very thoroughly. We were able to secure exactly the kind of concepts and brands that will suit our various customer groups and support the overall development of the airport,” says Nora Immonen, Director for Commercial services at Finavia.

The public procurement process covered 13 retail spaces with a total area of 1,081 m2. Of the retail spaces, 12 are new and are located in the new terminal section serving long-haul flights, or non-Schengen traffic, at Helsinki Airport. One of the retail spaces is in the terminal section that currently serves European and domestic flights, i.e. the Schengen area.

Dufry’s new shops will open autumn 2019 onwards

WDFG Helsinki Oy, a Dufry Group member that already operates 11 shops at the Helsinki Airport, was selected as the operator for the luxury and high-quality product categories.

Dufry will open retail outlets for the international luxury brands Bvlgari, Jimmy Choo, Chloe, Coach and Longchamp in 2020–2021. During 2019, retail outlets for Timebox and Urban Attitude as well as shops selling high-quality sunglasses, watches and jewellery will be opened at the airport.

Fred Creighton, Dufry’s Divisional CEO for UK and Central Europe comments “We’re delighted to have been awarded this contract to operate premium shopping outlets at Helsinki airport.  This is an exciting time for the airport as it enters this phase of transformation and we are proud to be part of what is the largest construction and redevelopment project in its history.  We look forward to playing our part by adding new features to the world-class shopping experience which will be enjoyed by the millions of passengers who use the airport each year.”

SSP Finland’s new restaurants will expand the airport’s food and drink selection

Select Service Partner Finland Oy was selected as the operator for the four new cafés and restaurants. SSP will open champagne bar Helcin, the tearoom Oh My, it’s tea time, which boasts a high-quality tea selection, and Café Koivikko, a café with a very Finnish concept. There will also be a juice bar called Helsinki Smoothery that serves fresh smoothies and juice.

 “We’re delighted to have won this latest tender and are looking forward to working with Finavia to expand and strengthen our existing F&B operations at Helsinki Airport. These latest openings have been designed to meet the needs of all passengers travelling through Finland’s largest airport – whether they are celebrating the start of their holidays with a glass of champagne or looking to refuel with a healthy and nutritious meal before their next flight, Pia Jormanainen, Managing Director at SSP Finland says” 

New shops, cafés and restaurants enhance the customer experience at Helsinki Airport

The procurement process has been the most extensive competitive bidding process related to the retail spaces being constructed in the non-Schengen area of Helsinki Airport.

“We are very happy with the operators that were selected. The customer experience and its enhancement are at the heart of all our operations and development efforts, and thanks to the new shops, brands, restaurants and cafés, we can offer an even wider selection of services to both our Finnish and our international passengers.

As our airport continues to develop, we will make the shopping and restaurant world even more versatile for our customers with more diversity where and what to eat and more local specialties to shop”, Nora Immonen continues.

Finavia is currently carrying out a EUR 1 billion development programme at Helsinki Airport. The aim of the development programme is to strengthen the position of Helsinki Airport both in the international competition between airports and as a significant airline hub between Europe and Asia.

Finavia provides and develops airport services with focus on safety, customer-orientation and cost efficiency in Finland. Finavia’s comprehensive network of 21 airports enables international connections from Finland — and to different parts of Finland. Helsinki Airport is the leading Northern European transit airport for long-haul traffic.

Dufry AG is a leading global travel retailer operating over 2,300 duty-free and duty-paid shops in airports, cruise lines, seaports, railway stations and downtown tourist areas. Dufry, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, operates in 65 countries in all six continents.

SSP is a leading operator of food and beverage concessions in travel locations, operating restaurants, bars, cafés, food courts, lounges and convenience stores in airports, train stations, motorway service stations and other leisure locations. SSP Finland operates 12 cafes and restaurants, 5 convenience stores, 2 lounges and VIP & Congress services at Helsinki Airport.