Fraport wins 23-year BWI contract for entire concession program
From launching new local brands to reimagining 118 concession spaces, Fraport Baltimore Partnership LLC aims to transform the passenger experience at BWI Marshall Airport
In a strategic move that signals major changes ahead for Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), Fraport Baltimore Partnership LLC has secured a 23-year contract to manage and develop the airport’s entire concession program. The Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA) awarded the contract following a competitive solicitation process by the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), positioning Fraport to reshape BWI’s retail and dining landscape.
The partnership brings together Fraport USA’s extensive airport retail expertise with Ernst Valery Investment Corporation’s (EVI) local development capabilities. This combination aims to deliver what Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld describes as the airport’s signature “Easy Come, Easy Go” service standard. “Members of the partnership have decades of experience successfully managing concessions programs at BWI Marshall and other major US airports,” Wiedefeld notes. “Thanks to the Board of Public Works, approval of this contract will keep Maryland at the heart of BWI Marshall’s food and retail scene, grow the state’s economy and provide opportunities to uplift communities.”
The scope of the project encompasses over 118 concession spaces, presenting an opportunity to reimagine the airport’s commercial offering. Sabine Trenk, CEO of Fraport USA, emphasizes the significance of this responsibility. “This contract represents not only a tremendous opportunity but also a profound responsibility to collaborate with MAA to develop world-class services that exceed expectations and set new standards for quality and customer experience,” she says. “Our vision for BWI Marshall launches from a storied past and reimagines the future of over 118 concession spaces that will lead the industry in new and exciting opportunities for passenger interaction, traveler engagement, revenue enhancement and a world-class experience.”
Ernst Valery highlights the strategic advantage of combining Fraport’s global expertise with local insights. “Our new venture, Fraport Baltimore Partnership LLC is uniquely poised to leverage the long history and experience of Fraport and EVI’s unmatched local development abilities, small business empowerment and community engagement skills,” he says.
This contract builds on Fraport’s established presence in airport retail management. As a global operator active in 30 airports across four continents with over 20,000 employees, the company brings substantial operational expertise to BWI. The organization pioneered the independent operator model in North America, which has driven higher per-passenger spending and increased customer satisfaction in national surveys.
