Aelia significantly outperformed the European market in 2009, posting solid sales and encouraging growth in sales per passenger despite challenging trading conditions. Total group sales last year reached €586m, down by 3.4% on 2008 but well ahead of cumulated traffic trends in the locations in which Aelia operates.

Across Aelia’s perfumes & cosmetics, liquor, tobacco, fine food and confectionery outlets at Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports—run by SDA, the company’s joint venture with Aéroports de Paris—sales per passenger (SPP) were up by 4.1% in 2009. Sales per non-EU passenger were particularly strong, up by 6.6% year-on-year on the back of over 7% growth in 2007 and 2008. Total sales to domestic travellers, meanwhile, were up by 3% in Paris airports, with SPP up by 9%.

Although sales in Aelia’s UK operations were down slightly on 2008, total sales per passenger in London Luton and Belfast International airports were up by 8.7%. In Poland, Aelia benefited from the first full year of trading in Warsaw Frédéric Chopin terminal 2 in 2009, posting significant sales growth compared with the previous year.

Commenting on the results, Aelia Group chairman and CEO Jean-Baptiste Morin said: “In most of our airport locations, traffic last year regressed to 2006 or even 2005 levels. Given those conditions, we are very satisfied with the performance we have posted, especially as indexes show we have significantly outperformed the European market. Over the past year we’ve intensified our promotional campaigns, worked hard on communication and sought to innovate in order to ensure our offer appeals to the widest number of travellers. The progress we have made with regard to sales per passenger suggests that even in these difficult times, we are doing something right.

“However, we are very aware that a full recovery in air traffic is some time away. With that in mind, we have to redouble our efforts, at every level of the company, to make sure that we stay ahead of the curve. This year we will be revisiting a number of areas of our operations, from marketing to supply chain, in a permanent effort to offer the best service, to give our customers the best value and get the best results.

“We have a lot to look forward to in 2010, not least our opening in Prague Ruzyne airport in the Czech Republic. That will be a big boost to our Eastern European business and gives us a significant base from which to grow. In Spain this quarter we are opening port stores in three locations, offering a valuable opportunity to develop in a major new market. In both the Czech Republic and Spain, Aelia will be creating joint ventures with our local sister companies within the Lagardère Services group, which in our view allows us to combine global and local expertise in a particularly effective way.

“Within France, we will soon complete our programme of store openings in Nice Côte d’Azur airport, the country’s largest outside Paris. We’re also thrilled to have won new contracts at Beauvais, Lille and Bordeaux. Our regional network in France is strong and well placed to make the most of the recovery ahead. “Our inflight subsidiary Aeroboutique Inflight Retail enjoyed a great end to the year following the acquisition of the Iberia onboard contract. Sales so far are in line with an ambitious budget following an encouraging start.

“Overall, given the financial context in place last year, I feel that our teams deserve congratulations for their performance. This year we will continue to invest, both in our existing business and in the various development projects we are undertaking, so that we are in a position to meet and exceed the targets we have set for ourselves.”