The countdown has begun to set up the biggest duty free shops in Egypt to attract more sky shoppers to Cairo International Airport, Amirah Ibrahim reports When construction at the new Terminal Building TB3 ends, Cairo International Airport will turn into a shopping city for travellers both departing or on transirt. The national carrier's new duty free shops, currently under construction, will house the biggest duty free zone ever found in one place in Egypt. "The new TB3 will act as the base for the Star Alliance members," Tawfiq Assi, chairman of EgyptAir Tourism & Duty Free Company, said. "Thus our passengers will use the new terminal either for arrival and departure or for transit. That is where we want to attract them using our new look, to come for shopping at Egyptian airports." The new duty free zone cover 3,600 square metres -- 2,900 square metres at departure lounges and almost 700 square metres at arrival lounges. "The LE35 million construction and equipping costs are high compared to the LE8 million we paid to prepare our 2,000 square-metre outlet at the Mega Mall City Stars," Assi said. An overhaul of duty free shops began five years ago as part of the rebuilding process of the national carrier. New shops opened at Cairo International arrival hall 3, City Stars Mega Mall, Luxor Airport's new terminal, the Borg Al-Arab arrival hall and the Red Sea marina resort at El-Gouna. According to Assi, a marketing campaign will be ready for launching prior to the inauguration of the TB3 new shops. "The campaign includes creating new promotion activities; offers and prizes, as well as putting our shops on the map of the world's biggest suppliers. "We started early contacts with main suppliers to duty free shops all over the world. This resulted in more than 100 suppliers who exhibit at the world's main airports to display at our new shops," he added. "Facilities and decoration equipment are being designed and produced abroad by suppliers to guarantee the same standard at other airports," Assi added. The new TB3 shopping city will be the site of only high value goods. "Travellers who might miss the opportunity to purchase presents or products of certain brands need have no regrets. We will certainly have them, and all in one place." Cairo International's TB3 is due to start operation by mid-2008.
