Wednesday 22 April 2025

Sydney Airport has launched a major Request for Proposal (RFP), inviting leading retailers to help set a new benchmark for travel essentials at T1 International.

Spanning approximately 4,000 square metres across 20 retail sites, the RFP covers all core travel essentials categories - News & Books, Gifts & Souvenirs, and Pharmacy. The scale of the opportunity positions it as one of the most significant retail redevelopments within Australia’s aviation sector.

Sydney Airport is calling for partners to reimagine how passengers engage with news, convenience, gifting, pharmacy and wellness retail, with a strong emphasis on creativity, innovation and customer-centric design.

Mark Zaouk, Sydney Airport’s Group Executive Commercial, said the RFP represents a rare opportunity to help shape the future of airport retail.

“This is a unique opportunity for retailers to play a defining role in the next chapter of travel essentials at Australia’s international gateway,” he said.

“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.”

Unmatched scale and customer engagement

As Australia’s leading international gateway, Sydney Airport accounts for approximately 40 percent of all international arrivals into the country and leads the nation in international traveller spend.

T1 International serves more than 17 million passengers annually, with strong growth forecast in the years ahead. With average airside dwell times exceeding 120 minutes, the environment presents a compelling opportunity for retailers to drive engagement, conversion and revenue.

What Sydney Airport is looking for

Sydney Airport is seeking partners who can deliver world-class retail experiences, underpinned by:

• Proven expertise in travel retail at scale
• A strong innovation and sales-driven mindset
• A collaborative, partnership-led approach
• Deep understanding of international passenger needs
• Data-driven and commercially sophisticated strategies
• Excellence in execution and customer experience
• A clear commitment to sustainability and future-ready retail

In addition to standard proposals, Sydney Airport is encouraging “Visionary Proposals” that challenge traditional category boundaries. Proponents may combine categories or propose alternative commercial structures.

This includes openness to innovative models such as Income Per Passenger (IPP), alongside more conventional minimum guarantee arrangements.

Interested proponents are invited to register their interest and access the RFP documentation by emailing emily.violaris@syd.com.au.