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Palma.—The “Áreas” group, a company specialising in food and drink, retail outlets and integral passenger services said yesterday that the level at which it is seeing its trade increase is directly linked to passenger volumes through Palma aiport. It reported by way of example that its bars and cafeterias at the airport were registering average increases in turnover of around 10 percent. “It's the French and the Italians who are giving us most of our business,” a spokesman for the group confirmed.

Also with a presence at Palma airport is Aldeasa, part of the multinational Autogrill companies. A representative said yesterday that although they as yet couldn't break down their increasing trade according to airport, growth was around 8.6 percent at 22 of the airports where the company operates. It was however clear, said the representative that business is booming at the tourist airports, amongst them those of the Balearic Islands, and increase in turnover “appears to be attributable to the growth in passenger volumes.” The Spanish National Airports Authority (AENA) echoed these assessments by saying that they recognised that product and service providers at national airports were indisputedly benefiting from the passenger numbers.

Forecasts suggest, said AENA yesterday, that the boom is to continue into what remains of August and into September.

Product sales and services at the new Hub at Terminal C in Palma airport are proving particularly profitable.
An analysis of business at Balearic airports showed that it is at Ibiza airport where takings have been highest, with retailers and services reporting increases in turnover of up to 15 percent. Minorca meanwhile is maintaing a level of trade it has enjoyed in previous years.