Canberra Airport to overhaul retail terminal

Canberra Airport is partnering with new retailers to add more than 1,000m² (10,760ft²) of retail, food and beverage destinations with a focus on local food and locally made gifts.

After a competitive market tender process, Australian airport food and beverage company Airport Retail Enterprises (ARE) has been awarded the food and beverage component of the new terminal retail.

On the Western Concourse (Virgin or International end), ARE will create a new café, City Hill Coffee, near the main atrium’s Unfurling sculpture. There will also be an Asian noodle and sushi offering called Noodles XO, and a health food outlet.

“Canberra has a fantastic local food scene, and we are very pleased to be partnering with local producers to bring this to the airport. The new terminal will become a fantastic showcase of the region’s produce,” says ARE chief executive officer John Chapman.

On the Southern Concourse (Qantas end) the existing Limestone Bar, Tuk Shop and Hudson coffee will be replaced by Capital Brewing Co. Bar, a partnership with the well-known local brewery. A mixed news, books, travel essentials and café space will be created on the ground floor in the arrivals baggage hall.

Airport retailer Australian Way Pty Ltd (AWPL) has been awarded the news, books and gifting component of the new terminal retail. AWPL will initially bring News@CBR to Canberra Airport, offering news, books and everyday travel essentials. Following the opening of News@CBR, AWPL will open a second store, Merchant Canberra, which will showcase iconic gifts from Canberra, its surrounding region, and around Australia.

Construction will begin in the coming months and stores will be introduced in two stages, with stage one finishing by the end of this year and stage two being completed by Easter 2020. “We are excited about these new partnerships as we work through the last piece in our terminal puzzle,” said Richard Snow, head of property at Canberra Airport.

“We have worked for years, focusing on making the travel experience for Canberrans and our visitors as seamless and efficient as possible. Now we are proud to be able to add in more restaurants and café options as well as retail that helps visitors remember their trip with local produce and gifts.”