Sydney Airport is seeking new retail partners across its core travel essentials categories, launching a significant Request for Proposal (RFP) that covers News & Books, Gifts & Souvenirs and Pharmacy at T1 International.
The tender encompasses around 4,000 square metres across 20 retail sites, making it one of the largest retail redevelopments in Australian aviation. The airport is inviting leading operators to reimagine the passenger retail experience, with an emphasis on innovation, customer-centric design and commercial performance.
Mark Zaouk, group executive commercial at Sydney Airport, described the RFP as a defining moment for travel retail at Australia’s busiest international gateway. “We’re seeking long-term partners who share our ambition to deliver exceptional, customer-first experiences – concepts that are innovative, commercially strong and go beyond traditional retail formats to meet the evolving needs of today’s global passenger,” he said.
A High-Traffic, High-Yield Opportunity
The scale of the passenger opportunity is considerable. T1 International handles more than 17 million passengers annually and accounts for roughly 40 percent of all international arrivals into Australia. Average airside dwell times exceed 120 minutes, and the airport leads the country in international traveller spend – factors that make the precinct an attractive proposition for travel retailers.
What the Airport is Looking For
Sydney Airport is prioritising partners with proven travel retail experience, a data-driven commercial approach and a genuine commitment to sustainability. Alongside standard submissions, the airport is actively encouraging “Visionary Proposals” that push beyond conventional category boundaries – including concepts that blend categories or propose alternative commercial structures.
Notably, the RFP is open to innovative models such as Income Per Passenger (IPP) arrangements, in addition to traditional minimum guarantee deals – a signal that Sydney Airport is willing to explore flexible, performance-aligned partnerships.
