Duty free shop approved for ‘new’ domestic Israeli airport

By Doug Newhouse |

To Ramon Airport or TimnaAs expected, the Israel Airports Authority has approved duty free shopping rights for the new $470m Timna Airport (also known as Ramon International Airport), which will replace the existing Eilat Airport, subject to meeting its projected April 2017 opening date.

 

This news was originally reported by the Israel Airports Authority (IAA) way back in December, when it was stated that the initial two million annual capacity Timna Airport would be allowed to operate a duty free shop for those passengers taking flights to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport, where they will meet their connecting flights to Europe and beyond as the route network expands.

 

REPLACEMENT FOR EILAT AND OVDA

The small regional airport is being located north of Eilat and the IAA says it has been purpose-built to provide better facilities and road transport links than both the current Eilat and Ovda airports, while incorporating duty free facilities of its own to help generate additional revenue for the relatively small facility. (Currently, DFA or Duty Free Americas holds the five-year duty free contract at Ovda Airport until 2017).

 

According to the Israel Airports Authority, the airport’s passenger capacity is being managed in three phases, with the first (2017) aimed at handling 1.8m a year, the second (2022) 2.25m; and the third (2030) 4.25m.

 

THe new Ramon Airport also known as Timna

The new Ramon International Airport (also known as Timna), will replace the existing Eilat and Ovda Airports when it opens in April of next year, according to the Israel Airports Authority.

 

In a statement on the airport, Israel’s Minister of Transportation Yisrael Katz said last year that the new passenger terminal is being built on a 30,000sq m field and will incorporate processing halls for both local and international flights, as well as duty free shops. The bid for building the new terminal was announced less than a year and a half after work started on the construction of the airport.

 

Commenting on the development last year, Katz said: “The evacuation of the existing airport in Eilat will allow further development of the city’s northern part, an addition of thousands of residential units and hotel rooms in the city, and will drastically improve the resident’s living conditions.”

 

See also: http://www.trbusiness.com/regional-news/middle-east/dfa-wins-5-year-ovda-airport-contract-in-israel/35821

 

 

 

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