Cochin Duty Free

Cochin Duty Free

Type	Subsidiary of Cochin International Airport Limited
Industry	Retails Duty Free Services
Founded	2002
Headquarters	Kochi Airport, Kochi, India
Key people	Mr. Suresh Babu, GM (Commercial Affairs) AS Lal, Director(Alpha Kreol ) MS Gopi Menon, Manager (Alpha Kreol)
Revenue	Rs 991 Million (March 2010)
Website	www.cochindutyfree.com

Cochin Duty Free is the retail arm of Cochin International Airport, operating duty free shops in International terminal as well as duty-paid shopping arcade in domestic terminal of Cochin Airport, Kochi. It was the first large scale duty free shop brand outside government owned ITDC Duty free which used to be operating in most of Indian Airport.^[1] Currently one of the most profitable duty free units in the country.^[2]

History

The concept of duty free was first proposed to garner more revenues and reduce losses which the company was incurring at that time. The idea was to create a duty free, similar to lines Dubai Duty Free, providing scope of most of the non-resident passengers to purchase their favourite duty free items without bothering to carry all the away from outside places.

The company decided to tie up with Dubai based Kreol Trading WLL and UK based Alpha Inflight Services PTE, a wholly owned subsidiary of Italy based Autogrill with strong expertise in duty free operations. While the facily would be developed by CIAL, the shops are operated by a joint-venture between Alpha and Kreol.

Facilities

The arrival hall has large duty-free shopping area of 13,000 sq ft (1,200 m2)^[3] spread over two floors with large collections of leading liquor brands, perfumes, chocolates, handicrafts, watches, books and electronics. A gold and platinum jewellery also operates in the duty free. The departure block duty free is under construction, though a last-minute shopping counter of 2,000 sq ft (190 m2), currently functions for passengers to buy select liquor brands, chocolate, perfumes, ethnic handicrafts, spices etc. A bookshop operated by Sankars Bookstore and ethnic Indian Khādī products promoted by KVIC Kerala selling traditional Kerala souvenirs and Khadi clothes also operate.

A large shopping arcade is provided in departure hall of domestic terminal which has several stores selling traditional Kerala specialties and apparels.

A large 20,000 sq ft (1,900 m2) departure duty free terminal is under construction, with 2,000 sq ft (190 m2) food-court, a wellness spa and 2 fine restaurants and a sports bar. The departure duty free is expected to open by October 2011. A Dilli-Haat modeled open-air shopping area is also planned, to showcase traditional Kerala souvenirs, handicrafts, ethnic items and food-stalls serving native foods.

Financial status

CIAL is one of the few airports in the country, that makes huge profits from duty free operations.

Awards and honours

• Cochin Duty free won prestigious Frontier International Award 2003 for the best partnership initiative of the year in the very first year of its operation, for attaining and maintaining the highest standards in the duty free industry at a ceremony in Cannes on the French Riviera^[4].

• Cochin Duty Free won the Best Duty Free Retailer of India-2008 by UK-based Mars International Travel Retail Foundation at Tax Free World Association (TFWA) Asia Pacific Retail conference held at Singapore^[5].

References

1. ^ http://www.trend-news.com/default.asp?newsid=8078
2. ^ http://www.traveltechie.com/travel_news_india/search_news/509/AAI-reports-good-revenue-from-commercial-activities-at-airports
3. ^ http://www.moodiereport.com/document.php?c_id=6&doc_id=23731
4. ^ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/Cochin-Duty-Free-gets-award/articleshow/26488230.cms
5. ^ http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/04/24/stories/2008042450630700.htm

External links

• Duty Free shops around the world - Global search engine for duty free shops and customs allowances