Four big names are vying to operate duty-free shops at three regional airports in Thailand as sales of bid envelopes ended yesterday, Airports of Thailand (AoT) president Nitinai Sirismatthakarn said.
The AoT decided earlier to split the bidding to run the duty-free concessions at Suvarnabhumi airport in Samut Prakan and the other three aerial gateways into two contracts. The three regional airports are in Phuket, Hat Yai and Chiang Mai.
The four firms that purchased the envelopes are King Power Duty Free, Bangkok Airways Plc, the Royal Orchid Sheraton (Thailand) and Central Department Store Co, Mr Nitinai said.
They must inform the AoT about their joint venture partners by May 22.
The State Enterprise Police Office and the State Audit Office will be invited to observe when the envelopes were unsealed to ensure transparency, in line with the AoT's policy of good governance, he said.
The bidders are required to submit their bids on June 3, and they will be unsealed on June 4-5. The results will be announced on June 10.
The duty-free concession spans 10 years, starting from September next year.
An AoT source said much weight will be placed on the minimum guarantee offered, which must be paid regardless of revenue.
