China Duty Free Group (CDFG) has collected a 10-year duty free contract to operate two duty free concessions at Beijing Daxing International Airport, which is earmarked to open later this year.

The airport’s tendering agency confirmed the winning bid in a notice on 13 March for the liquor, tobacco and food, and fashion and beauty operations.

In a statement obtained by TRBusiness, Charles Chen, President, CDFG thanked Capital International Airport Group, for its trust and recognition in CDFG’s winning bid.

“Daxing International Airport is the new capital of Beijing,” he said. “Positioned as a large international aviation hub, it is a new source of power for the country’s development.

KEY TRANSPORTATION HUB

“It is a comprehensive transportation hub for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region that supports the construction of the Xiong’an New District.”

Chen continued by paying gratitude towards supportive domestic and foreign brands ‘who have been paying attention to the development of China’s tax free industry’.

CDFG’s win further entrenches its position in China’s burgeoning duty free and tax free market and bolsters an already expansive airport presence.

This includes Beijing Capital International Terminals 2 and 3; Shanghai Pudong and Hongqiao (CDFG/Sunrise Duty Free); Guangzhou Baiyun Terminals 1 and 2; Macau; and Hong Kong International Airport (CDF-Lagardère) among others.

It also operates offshore duty free shops in Hainan at Sanya, Haikou and Bo’ao.

The company has made no secret of its desire to expand across all duty free channels.

Last week, CDFG announced plans during the TFWA China’s Century Conference to open new downtown stores in Beijing, Macau, Shanghai, Dalian, Qingdao and Xiamen.

A CDFG source told TRBusiness the Beijing store will unveil first as part of a phased opening.

SEPTEMBER OPENING

Beijing Daxing is slated to complete on 30 June prior to its commencement on 30 September.

Once live, it will act as an important fulcrum for increasing international traffic volumes and will rely predominantly on the services of Air China.

It is expected to handle 45m passengers in 2021 and 72m by 2025.