French company offered Sarajevo Airport to take over duty-free trade: Employees against privatization

Representatives of the French company Lagardere Travel Retail offered Sarajevo International Airport (MAS) the privatization of duty-free trade (Duty Free Shop – DFS) on May 30, and the meeting in Sarajevo took place ten days later. Employees of the Trade Department expressed their disagreement with such a potential agreement, writes Istraga.

Lagardere stated in a letter to the director of MAS, Sanin Ramezić, that it is a company operating in 51 countries at more than 220 airports.

“We propose exploring opportunities for cooperation in the duty-free retail segment, along with an improved food and beverage offering at Sarajevo International Airport, where we believe there is significant potential for growth and improvement. Lagardere Travel Retail operates under various business models tailored to Duty Free Shops and the food and beverage segment. We are open to initiating preliminary discussions to assess the feasibility and mutual benefit of such cooperation,” it is stated.

They add that they are ready to introduce a range of premium international brands that are not currently available at Sarajevo Airport. The letter emphasizes that the implementation of the agreement, if it occurs, would take five months, including all administrative procedures, hiring, training, and operational tasks.

Employees of the Trade Department at Sarajevo Airport sent a letter to the Company Management stating that there is increasing talk about the possible privatization of duty-free trade. They blamed Amer Bekan for everything, highlighting him as the intermediary between Sarajevo Airport and the French company.

“All of this has greatly disturbed the employees, as the circulating rumors instill complete confusion and uncertainty about our future in this company, where some of us have been working since the very beginning,” the letter to the Airport Management states.

For this reason, they have posed several questions for which they seek an urgent answer. They asked whether the current business model of DFS, managed by the Company without a private partner, will be retained or if it will be granted under concession/joint management. They question the justification for granting DFS under concession, as they state that this sector has recorded revenue growth year after year, and whether a public, transparent international tender will be announced. Additionally, they asked if the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is aware of the negotiations.

“Are the risks of such a decision being considered, both financial and operational, given that DFS is the only passage to the gates, which would be handed over to private hands,” the letter from the employees of the MAS Trade Department sent to the Airport Management reads.

DFS covers an area of over 300 square meters and is located in Terminal B. It offers more than 6,000 items from foreign and domestic manufacturers.