Belfast International Airport has announced the next phase of its £100m investment, with a new duty-free area set to open in April creating 40 jobs.
In 2023, operators VINCI announced the new five year investment at the airport, which included a new security area and a solar farm.
Last year it unveiled its newly expanded and reconfigured immigration arrivals area after a £1m investment.
The new expanded store, will provide an “immersive duty free experience”, including retail, food and beverage and travel essentials, and will be operated by Lagardère Travel Retail.
Peter Newbould, Chief Executive Officer of Lagardère Travel Retail UK & Ireland, said: “We are proud to partner with the Belfast International Airport team to bring a rich variety of global and local brands to travellers at Belfast for the first time.
“Our vision is to create an exceptional and dynamic experience that goes beyond the traditional airport journey, combining innovative concepts with a strong sense of place.
“This project underscores our commitment to delivering memorable and engaging moments for travellers, while also showcasing the rich culture of Northern Ireland.”
Daniel Owens, CEO Belfast International Airport added: “We are thrilled to partner with Lagardère Travel Retail to deliver a truly unique and elevated passenger experience.
“This collaboration has been a testament to the power of teamwork and shared vision. We’re confident that this partnership will redefine the travel experience at Belfast International Airport.
“However, it also highlights the inequality that Northern Ireland travellers face as they cannot avail of the full duty free tax exemption when travelling to other UK and EU Airports, as airports across rest of the UK and Ireland can, following the Brexit transition period.
“This places Northern Ireland at a clear competitive disadvantage for attracting routes, visitors and investment and something we are determined to put right to ensure our travellers are fairly and equitably treated”.
Spanning over 1,600 square metres, the new concept store will be twice as large than the current store and will create 40 new jobs.
Through the new store passengers will have access to global brands s
uch as MINISO and Rituals.
The new store will celebrate Northern Ireland’s local heritage with a Whiskey Apothecary concept, which will stock local brands such as McConnell’s, Bushmills, and Boatyard Distillery.
An international tasting bar will allow passengers to sample local and global products, while an interactive ‘Hotspot’ will showcase a selection of local beauty, fashion and dining options.
The new space will also feature a ‘Transition Zone’ designed to encourage passengers to spend more time in the primary shopping area.
It will include a dedicated MINISO corner – the first of its kind in Northern Ireland – alongside Lagardère Travel Retail’s unique Discover Belfast and Tech2Go concepts.