Gebr. Heinemann Italia extends Bari Airport contract and plans new duty free store. Gebr. Heinemann Italia has extended its contract with Aeroporti di Puglia following a selection process. A new walk-through duty free store of more than 1,000 square metres is planned for Bari Airport, with an opening scheduled for the second half of 2028, subject to the completion of terminal works.
Contract extension covers a new retail space – opening is scheduled for the second half of 2028
Heinemann Italia srl, a subsidiary of Gebr. Heinemann, will continue operating at Bari Airport under an extended agreement with Aeroporti di Puglia. The contract also covers a new duty free space planned as part of the ongoing renovation and modernisation of the departures terminal. The walk-through store is expected to cover more than 1,000 square metres and is planned for the terminal’s second floor. Its opening is scheduled for the second half of 2028, subject to the completion of renovation work in the airside passenger areas. The new store will form part of the wider development of the departures area. The extension gives the two companies a basis for continuing their cooperation and planning the commercial development of the new space. The concept is intended to reflect the airport’s location in Puglia and the region’s appeal to international visitors, including its landscapes, culture, food and wine.
Existing shops will remain open during construction
Heinemann Italia currently operates two shops at Bari Airport: a main store of around 600 square metres and a gate shop of approximately 30 square metres. Both are expected to remain open until the new store is completed and opens. After the new space is operational, the current main store on Level 1 will close. The gate shop will remain open. This planned transition will allow the existing retail offer to continue while the new space is being developed.
Regional assortment is expected to retain a central role in the new store
The regional assortment is expected to retain a central role in the new store. The larger floor area will also allow Heinemann Italia to present other categories more extensively and adapt the offer to passengers’ expectations and preferences. The companies have not provided further details but renderings about the store’s layout or the detailed category mix. The announcement focuses on the scale of the new space, the continued importance of regional products and the opportunity to develop the retail concept alongside the terminal’s modernisation.
Sales at Bari Airport increased by 21.5 per cent in 2026
The announcement reports that sales across Heinemann Italia’s two Bari Airport shops from January to September 2026 were 21.5 per cent higher than in the same period of 2025. The companies attribute this development to rising passenger numbers and a growing share of international travellers. The figures provide commercial context for the contract extension and plans for a larger store. The new space is intended to support the partners’ retail activity as the airport develops its departures area and passenger services.
Partners describe the agreement as part of airport development
- Christoph Stump, Director Sales at Gebr. Heinemann, said Italy was an important market for the group’s European business. He described reliable partnerships and concepts tailored to individual locations as important to long-term success, and said the extension reflected Gebr. Heinemann’s commitment to Italy and the partners’ aim of further developing the travel experience at the airport.
- Fulvio Fassone, Managing Director of Heinemann Italia, linked the new agreement to the cooperation between the companies, which began in 2020. He said the new duty free space would be part of the wider modernisation and expansion of Bari Airport’s departures area.
- Antonio Maria Vasile, President of Aeroporti di Puglia, said the renewed agreement supported the airport’s development strategy. He connected the new store with planned investment in infrastructure, services and retail, as well as the airport’s role in connecting Puglia with destinations in Italy and internationally.
The contract extension therefore brings together two developments: the continuation of Heinemann Italia’s retail operations at Bari Airport and the creation of a larger duty free store within the terminal’s modernisation programme. The new store is planned to open in the second half of 2028, subject to the completion of the relevant works.
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[Text: epcnews/Rendering: Gebr. Heinemann]
