Lotte Duty Free said on the 17th that it returned to Incheon International Airport after about three years as it began operating stores in the DF1 zone (cosmetics, perfume/liquor, tobacco). The business period is up to 10 years from the opening date. Lotte Duty Free expects the new stores to boost annual sales by more than 600 billion won.
Lotte Duty Free was finally selected in February as the operator for Incheon International Airport's DF1 zone. Its four decades of accumulated duty-free operations experience and its operational capabilities built at key domestic airports such as Gimpo, Gimhae and Jeju, as well as overseas hub airports including Singapore Changi Airport and in Vietnam, received high marks. Being the only domestic duty-free operator to post a profit for four consecutive quarters last year also served as proof of its financial stability.
The newly opened DF1 zone at Incheon Airport covers a total of 4,094 square meters (about 1,240 pyeong) and will feature more than 240 brands across 15 stores. The lineup includes perfume and cosmetics brands such as Chanel, La Mer and Dior, as well as liquor, tobacco and food brands including Ballantine's, Johnnie Walker, KT&G and Jung Kwan Jang.
To reduce inconvenience for departing passengers, Lotte Duty Free opened all areas at once, including stores in Terminals 1 and 2 and the concourse. Future renovations will be carried out in stages in consultation with Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC). At the same time, the company plans to strengthen brand and product assortments tailored to demand from both domestic and international departing travelers and introduce digital experiential content at the front of stores to elevate the shopping experience.
A large-scale promotion to mark the opening, the "Opening Festa," has also been prepared. For in-person shoppers, benefits for Korean customers include sweepstakes for Philippine airline tickets and hotel stays; up to 2.33 million won in shopping perks including an additional LDF PAY 30,000 won credit exclusive to the Incheon Airport store and a PRE LDF PAY 250,000 won credit; and an instant 10,000 won accrual when paying 100,000 won or more with Naver Pay. For foreign customers, partnership events include up to 5% preferential exchange-rate coupons when paying with WeChat Pay, an instant 30,000 won discount when paying 300,000 won or more with UnionPay, and a coupon book offering up to $110 in discounts exclusive to guests staying at Paradise City Incheon.
Related promotions will also continue at Lotte Online Duty Free. They include special deals with discounts of up to 55% on 20 popular products, first-come, first-served special coupon distribution every day at 11 a.m., and a comment giveaway event celebrating the Incheon Airport opening. In addition, customers can earn up to 10 times the L.POINT when paying with L.Pay (L.PAY), and enjoy easy-payment benefits through Kakao Pay, Naver Pay, Toss Pay and Payco.
Yang Hee-sang, head of sales at Lotte Duty Free, said, "Incheon Airport is a symbolic place where domestic and international travelers form their first and last impressions of Korea," and added, "As we welcome customers again after three years, we will work closely with the airport corporation to build a duty-free shopping environment that satisfies both domestic and foreign travelers."