Avolta awarded historic Shanghai Pudong duty free concession, making it a landmark duty free win for an international operator

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Avolta has been awarded a duty free concession at Shanghai Pudong International Airport in what the company described as a historic milestone, marking its entry into mainland China’s airport duty free sector and its first airport location in Asia-Pacific where it will operate duty free, convenience retail and food and beverage businesses within a single destination.

Under the concession, Avolta will operate inbound and outbound duty free stores in Terminal 1 and the S1 Satellite Hall International Area. The agreement covers more than 8,000 square meters across 43 stores at one of China’s largest international gateways. Terminal 1 and the S1 Satellite Hall International Area are projected to handle 18.7 million international passengers in 2026.

With this win, Shanghai Pudong International Airport becomes Avolta’s first airport location in APAC where it will operate all three lines of business (duty free, convenience and food & beverage), bringing together the full breadth of Avolta’s capabilities in one destination. The award reflects the airport’s confidence in Avolta’s ability to combine global duty free expertise, data-led category management and local market insight to deliver a high-quality, scalable retail proposition.

Freda Cheung, President and CEO Asia Pacific, Avolta, said: “Shanghai is a vital global gateway, and we will deliver a duty free offer shaped by local insight, featuring Chinese brands and a locally adapted assortment, aligned with the expectations of today’s travelers. We thank Shanghai Pudong International Airport for its trust and partnership.”

Xavier Rossinyol, CEO, Avolta, said: “This is a breakthrough moment for Avolta, strategically and symbolically. Becoming the first international operator to enter mainland China’s airport duty free segment in a generation reinforces our Destination 2027 ambition to grow through diversification and integrated travel experiences. My sincere thanks go to our teams on the ground, led by Freda, whose expertise and commitment made this historic achievement possible.”

As this is a first-of-its-kind award in mainland China, Avolta said several procedural steps must be completed before Avolta can initiate operations under the newly awarded concession. The company has initiated the required processes and will commence operations once approvals are finalized.