Dubai Duty Free (DDF) says Qantas and Emirates’ new global aviation partnership will provide ‘a tremendous opportunity’ for the leading duty free operator.

 

This follows the earlier announcement that Qantas plans to move out of Changi Airport and into Dubai Airport ‘T3’ from April 13 of next year. Qantas is also leaving the 11-strong oneworld airline alliance to form a no-equity swap partnership with Emirates and basing its operation in Dubai.

 

Commenting on the development, Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman of Dubai Duty Free told The Business: “The 10-year agreement announced between Emirates and Qantas is hugely significant both from a business point of view and from a passenger viewpoint.

 

“By moving the Qantas hub for European flights from Singapore to Dubai, Dubai International Airport’s status as a world-class hub is greatly underlined and

there are huge benefits for all stakeholders in that.

 

“From the passenger point of view, the agreement will provide Qantas passengers access to Emirates’ extensive routes into Europe and Africa, while UAE passengers gain access to Qantas’ domestic network in Australia. The two airlines combined will operate 98 flights per week between the UAE and Australia, which offers fantastic connectivity.”

 

[Above: Dubai airport]

 

SPEND PER HEAD BENEFIT

McLoughlin added that the additional traffic is ‘a tremendous opportunity’ to capture footfall and drive spend per head. “The fact that the deal will come into effect when the new Concourse A opens means that passengers will use our 8,000 square metre retail operation there.

 

“We are excited about the new operation which will showcase some of the latest in retail fit design and the latest technology, which Emirates and now Qantas passengers will be the first to experience.”

 

[To avoid any confusion, Dubai Airport’s stand-alone A380 Concourse 3 as it was known, has now been renamed Concourse ‘A’-Ed].

 

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said: “This is the most significant partnership the Qantas Group has ever formed with another airline, moving past the traditional alliance model to a new level.”

 

 

See exclusive interview in the October issue of The Travel Retail Business-Ed.