Hong Kong-based luxury travel retailer DFS Group has won a “tightly-contested” bid to run the fashion, watches and jewellery concession at China’s Chongqing Jiangbei Airport for five years.

Under the concession, DFS will operate 13 branded boutiques in domestic Terminal 3A with an accumulative retail space of 1500sqm. The travel retail group will take over the premises this September before starting operations in November. 

“In preparing for the bid, our teams brought to life DFS’ expertise in-store design, retail operations, merchandising and marketing, with a strong focus on luxury positioning,” said Benjamin Vuchot, chairman and CEO. 

“We also leveraged our deep and strong relationships with some of the best brands in the world, gained over more than six decades of operational experience in airports and downtown locations.”

The group plans to disclose a lineup of 18 luxury brands, including first-time debuts at the premise, before the Chinese Lunar Year. These are in addition to brands already secured by the airport including Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Gucci and Burberry. 

Chongqing Jiangbei Airport was ranked fourth in China by domestic passenger volume last year, with more than 35.8 million people passing through Terminal 3A.

“As China’s borders remain closed to international travel, providing more avenues for domestic retail has never been more critical or timely,” Vuchot added. 

“Less than two years after re-entering China with our Galleria store in Hainan Island, we are swiftly covering the ground,” said Nacy Liu, president of DFS China.