Ireland’s ARI Raises The Retail Bar In Portugal’s Key Airports

The Port Cellar (right) and Sabores de Portugal (left) are new elements of ARI's revamped airport ... More stores in Portugal.
Aer Rianta International
Aer Rianta International (ARI), the international arm of Ireland’s airport operator, Aer Rianta, unveiled new Portugal Duty Free stores this week after almost three years of redevelopment, which the retailer believes sets a new standard in global airport shopping.
In February 2022, following a tender process, ARI was selected to be the retail partner of Portuguese airport operator ANA Aeroportos de Portugal, part of France’s Vinci Airports, which operates more than 70 airports in 14 countries. ARI took control of retail outlets across Portugal’s eight main airports, equating to almost 108,000 square feet of retail space. The Portugal Duty Free concept opened its doors to passengers in June 2022, with refurbishment works—costing millions of dollars—beginning shortly afterward.
Only now is the full finished product available to passengers, The objective was to encapsulate the essence of Portugal—from its landscape and food to its artistry and heritage—inside the stores and create a memorable experience for shoppers. Among the main airports of Portugal, each shopping location, be it Lisbon Duty Free, Porto Duty Free, Faro Duty Free, Madeira Duty Free, or Azores Duty Free, has its own identity.
According to a statement from ARI, Portugal Duty Free “delivers a masterclass in modern sense of place.” Some of the elements that deliver this are a Lisbon #28 tram in the Lisbon Airport store and a vintage Volkswagen California camper van in Faro Airport’s retail area. Such features give passengers Instagrammable photo opportunities that they seem to crave.
Doubling down on the local focus, Portugal Duty Free now sells more than 1,000 locally produced items, many exclusive to the airport. For example, the Sabores de Portugal in-store concept celebrates fine Portuguese cuisine, including the globally popular pastéis de nata (custard tarts) which are delivered daily to the airport.