Zurich Airport and the global travel service provider Avolta have extended their cooperation ahead of schedule by several years. The duty-free agreement, originally set to run until the end of 2028, has been extended by a further seven years and now runs until 2035.
This agreement covers not only the management of duty-free retail spaces at a total of 17 locations, but also extends to the convenience and food service sectors. By finalizing the partnership early, both companies secure planning certainty for future major projects at the Kloten site.
A key factor in the contract extension is the upcoming replacement of Dock A. During the multi-year construction phase, there will be spatial restrictions in terminal operations, making close coordination between the airport operator and the retail partner necessary to maintain the commercial services for passengers. Avolta, formed from the merger of Dufry and Autogrill, utilizes an integrated business model at Zurich Airport that combines traditional retail with food service concepts. This allows for flexible space utilization and efficient management of goods flow within the secure area.
Beyond its traditional terminal operations, Avolta will significantly expand its presence at "The Circle" service center. As part of the "Avolta Next" strategy, this location will serve as an innovation hub. New technologies and sales concepts for the international travel market will be developed and tested here before being rolled out to other locations within the group worldwide. Zurich Airport will thus act as a test market for digital payment systems, automated shop concepts, and modern food service interfaces.
Industry analyses underscore the importance of such long-term concessions in the aviation industry. Revenue from non-flight-related businesses, including duty-free sales and food service, represents an essential source of financing for airport operators. For Avolta, Zurich is one of its highest-revenue locations in the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East, and Africa). By integrating the brands from the Autogrill Group, the company can now offer the full spectrum of passenger catering services from a single source at Switzerland's largest airport and leverage synergies in logistics and workforce planning.