Cannes_2026_TUESDAY_ISSUE_DIGITAL

T he major news at the end of August that Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) has launched a Request for Information (RFI) as a key part of a strategic review of its duty-free concession model, reflects the airport operator’s ongoing efforts to assess how its duty-free retail offering can continue to evolve in line with changing passenger expectations and shopping behaviours. Titled “The Next Chapter in Duty-Free Retail,” the initiative from the operator of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and a network of 38 airports across the nation, is aimed at delivering “a more distinctive and relevant retail experience, with greater product Malaysia Airports signals “strategic review of duty-free concession model” as it invests to “optimise every touchpoint from curbside to coffee” differentiation and choice that better reflects current travel and shopping patterns.” In all the RFI specifically targets six core duty-free locations across its top major international airports: • KL International Airport Terminal 1 • KL International Airport Terminal 2 • Penang International Airport • Langkawi International Airport • Kota Kinabalu International Airport • Kuching International Airport The RFI also makes clear that the review is not starting from a predetermined concession structure: “Rather than beginning with a predetermined concession structure, Malaysia Airports is first defining the experience it wants to create, and identifying the model best suited to deliver it.” In an evidence-based approach, Malaysia Airports reports that an independent benchmarking exercise against regional and international airports “has identified opportunities to strengthen the existing model and highlighted alternative approaches to further enhance the passenger retail experience.” Building on these findings, the operator issued the RFI “to gather market perspectives and better understand different commercial and operating models, industry capabilities, and investment A key driver of Malaysia Airports’ enhanced commercial strategy is last year’s takeover of the company by the Gateway Development Alliance (GDA) – a consortium comprising 70%Malaysian interests and 30% foreign holdings equally split between the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and Global Infrastructure Partners which brings considerable expertise from holdings in London Gatwick, Sydney, and Edinburgh airports. Tuesday 29 September 2026 52 T F W A D A I L Y