Airport International Group Announces Preferred Bidder for the Newsstand tender
Airport International Group Announces Preferred Bidder for the Newsstand tender
Airport International Group (AIG), the Jordanian consortium responsible for the rehabilitation, expansion, and operation of the Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA), has announced the selection of the Jordan Distribution Agency - Aramex Media as the preferred bidder for the newsstand service at the new terminal.
The comprehensive process to select newsstand service provider began in April, 2012, and was open to submissions from both local and international service providers.
By using a fair, transparent bid evaluation process based on clearly-defined criteria, AIG hopes to accomplish two key objectives; ensuring that visitors to the QAIA have the highest levels of satisfaction in the airport’s services, while simultaneously providing the maximum possible financial returns for both the airport and the Kingdom’s national treasury. The evaluation process - involving the Project Management Unit from the Ministry of Transport - guaranteed that bidders fulfilled each tender’s strict technical and financial requirements.
“The selection of the Jordan Distribution Agency – Aramex Media as the airport’s newsstand service provider stems from AIG’s unwavering commitment to guaranteeing a rich and highly varied experience for travelers, and to continually improve the standards of the services offered at the new terminal,” Commented Kjeld Binger, CEO of AIG. “As QAIA serves as the primary gateway to Jordan, this step falls in line with our objective of transforming the airport into a niche regional hub, which will further reinforce Jordan’s position as a viable tourism and business destination.”
The Jordan Distribution Agency will operate the newsstand under the name WHSMITH, for which the company has the franchise in Jordan. WHSMITH is a leading UK retailer with more than 30 locations in airports across the world. The partnership between the Jordan Distribution Agency and WHSMITH offers excellent synergies between the two companies and will add to the myriad of outlets in QAIA's New Terminal.
Jordan Distribution Agency General Manager Tarek Abuyaghi said: “We are extremely pleased with our partnership with Airport International Group (AIG), and we are looking forward to introducing the WHSMITH global brand to Jordan’s new gateway to the world. This partnership will provide us with an opportunity to further contribute to the development of Jordan’s infrastructure, and deliver world class service to the citizens and visitors of the Kingdom.”
AIG’s investment of US $750 million to build the state-of-the-art terminal – in addition to US $100 million spent on rehabilitating the terminals currently in use – is intended to develop Jordan’s primary gateway, the QAIA, as a regional niche hub. The terminal is in the end stages of construction with 85% completed to date.