Aer Rianta International Middle East (ARIME) is to extend the retail offer that it manages on behalf of Qatar Duty Free at Doha International Airport, according to ARIME Managing Director John Sutcliffe.

‘In Qatar they are obviously building a new airport there which will be ready I think in 2009-2010 and in between that, some developments are going on in the airport in preparation for the Asian games, so we will be extending the retail offer there also.
‘We also have – as many people are not aware – a downtown business in Qatar which is substantial. We have exclusive distribution of alcohol products in Qatar on behalf of our client Qatar Airways. The company is called QDC, Qatar Distribution Company ? that?s been doing extremely well also, it?s a fantastic business.’
Sutcliffe confirmed that ARIME had both contracts renewed last March for a further three years.
Meanwhile, Qatar Airways? Ceo Akbar al Bakr officially confirmed at the weekend that the airline is to delay the delivery of its first Airbus A380 until the opening of the new Doha International Airport in 2009. Speaking at World Travel Market, Bakr said that the airport was now 20% complete, but the rapid expansion of the airline was causing congestion problems in the existing building.