Retailers, restaurateurs and minority partners urge North American airports to halt concession bids

USA. The Airport Restaurant and Retail Association (ARRA) and the Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) has urged airports to halt concessions bids and leasing processes until the COVID-19 crisis is under control.

In a letter sent today (20 March) to North American airport companies, ARRA and AMAC said they appreciated the initial steps many had taken to mitigate the impact on concession partners.

“However,” they added, “sales losses continue to mount quickly and at unsustainable levels, requiring a full-on effort by businesses to survive. In the face of such rapid traffic decline, we continue to work tirelessly to protect the public safety, maintain a level of service to remaining passengers, retain employees, and internally focus on the health of our individual businesses – requiring 100% of our time and effort.

“As such, we request that airports institute an immediate moratorium on the issuance of solicitations for new concessions (RFPs and RFQs), and a suspension of solicitations currently in progress, pending the end of the pandemic.”

Concessions crisis: Associations have called on airports across North America to halt RFPs and RFQs so their partners can focus on survival (Houston George Bush Intercontinental pictured above, Chicago O’Hare and Los Angeles airports, below)

As reported, earlier this week, ARRA and AMAC jointly urged US airports and Congress to ensure financial relief measures for their members, airport restaurateurs and retailers. Otherwise, they warned, many will be forced out of business.