The win at Melbourne Airport consolidates Lotte Duty Free’s presence in Australia. The Korean powerhouse already boasts operations at Brisbane International Airport, Darwin International Airport and in downtown Melbourne and Sydney. Source: Shutterstock.

Lotte Duty Free has won the rights to operate the duty free concession at Melbourne Airport’s (MEL) International Terminal following a competitive tender, TRBusiness can confirm.

The ten-year contract will commence on 1 June.

As revealed by TRBusiness in December, a shortlist of three bidders were in the running for the prized concession after MEL issued an RFP last year.

Andrew Gardiner, Chief of Commercial – Property & Retail, Melbourne Airport had confirmed to this publication strong interest in the quality of the proposals received.

Current tenant Dufry’s lease is set to expire at the end of May 2023.

TRBusiness has reached out to MEL for comment.

Click here for an in-depth interview with Melbourne Airport’s Andrew Gardiner and Head of Retail and Asset Management Aaron Gupta, who reflect on the changing commercial dynamics at the airport in recent years and the recent introduction of MEL’s new online duty free shopping marketplace ‘Laneway’.