In Transit: New Models of Airport Retail

With airport costs rising, retail is increasingly seen as an important revenue driver for airports. And tighter security guidelines and the popularity of low-cost airlines (which require early arrival for a place in line) mean that customers are spending even more time waiting in terminals. In 2008, San Francisco International Airport embarked on a $383 million project to renovate Terminal 2 into a state-of-the-art domestic terminal. Now opened, this renovated terminal includes 12 restaurants, nine retail stores, a gourmet marketplace and a spa. T2 is also expected to achieve LEED Gold certification. This session will walk you through T2’s transformation amid a discussion of the unique trends driving the exciting changes in airport retailing across the country.